Honesty and integrity

Gospel

Matthew 5:33-37

Do not swear: say 'Yes' if you mean Yes, 'No' if you mean No

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you: do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in our words. He teaches that our "yes" should simply mean yes, and our "no" should mean no—without the need for elaborate oaths or promises. This reminds us that our character and trustworthiness should be evident through our everyday speech. When we are truthful and sincere, we build trust with others and reflect the truthfulness of God’s own nature. Jesus calls us to be people of honesty, where our words are consistent with our hearts.

Are there moments when I feel the need to over-embellish or swear to prove my honesty? How can I cultivate a habit of truthfulness in my daily life, so that my words naturally reflect integrity?

Short Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you teach us to speak with honesty and simplicity. Help us to be truthful in all our words and actions, so that our lives may reflect your truth and love. Strengthen our hearts to speak sincerely, and give us the courage to stand by our words. May our yes be yes, and our no be no, so that we may be faithful witnesses of your kingdom. Amen.

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