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Why Jesus Condemn Jew People Wey Dey Swear?
FOR the Law wey Jehovah give Moses, e get some things wey person fit swear about. But for Jesus time, many people come dey use am anyhow. The matter bad sotey, dem must swear for everything wey dem talk. Dem dey swear anyhow to make people believe sey wetin dem talk na true. E reach two times wey Jesus condemn this bad thing. E teach dem sey, make dem let their ‘Yes’ be yes, and make their ‘No’ be no.—Matt. 5:33-37; 23:16-22.
The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, talk sey: ‘Wetin dem write for one book wey dem dey call Talmud show sey Jew people dey swear about everything. Dem want make people believe sey dem dey talk true.’ And this Talmud still talk the kind promise wey dem go keep, and the one wey dem fit no keep.
No be only Jesus condemn this bad thing wey Jew people dey do. For example, one Jew person wey im name na Flavius Josephus, write about wetin some Jew people believe. E talk sey: ‘Dem no dey gree swear. Dem believe sey to swear worse pass to lie. Dem still believe sey person wey dey swear make people believe am, na big liar.’ One book wey dem dey call Wisdom of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus, (23:11) talk sey: ‘Person wey dey swear na yeye person.’ Jesus no want make people dey swear anyhow. If we dey talk true every time, we no need to swear before people believe us.