• Review:
    • Importance of attitudes in driving actions
    • Attitudes in the parable of the good Samaritan
    • Attitudes in the sermon on the mount
      • Beatitudes
      • Living exemplary lives
      • Regard for the law
      • Seek a higher righteousness than that of the scribes and Pharisees
      • Points of the law vs. popular teachings of the time
        • Attitudes leading to murder
        • Roots of adultery, attitude of prevention
        • Likeness of divorce to adultery
  • Continuing points from the instructions of the ancients:
    • Point 3: Swearing (Matthew 5:33-37)
      • Principle: Be known for telling the truth (Ephesians 4:25)
      • This precludes the need to swear
      • Proliferation of oaths and their perceived lack of force
        • Proliferation caused by lack of force
        • Insincerity of oaths (Matthew 23:16)
        • There will be no excuses (Ecclesiastes 5:2-6; Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Revelation 22:14-15)
      • Prescribed oaths not barred (Exodus 22:10-11; Numbers 5:19)
      • Remember verse 17
    • Point 4: Getting even (Matthew 5:38-42; Exodus 21:23-25; Deuteronomy 19:18-21)
      • Don’t
      • Different levels of perceived offense
        • People who do you actual harm
        • Evil person who insults you
        • One opposing you at law
        • Government mandate
        • People in need
      • Justice is not a rendering of evil (v17)
      • Resisting evil would be a never-ending task, not ours to do (I Thessalonians 5:15; Proverbs 20:22; Romans 12:17-19)
      • Don’t avenge insults (John 18:20-23)
      • Be compliant to a fault when “they” come after you
        • By litigation
        • By government coercion (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26)