Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time - Honesty and Integrity Always

Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time - Honesty and Integrity Always

From Catholic Daily Reflections by My Catholic Life!

June 12, 2026 · 7 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the importance of honesty and integrity in relation to oaths and vows as taught by Jesus.

Read Online Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all… Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.” Matthew 5:33–34, 37 When someone’s honesty is questioned, it is not uncommon to respond emphatically by saying, “I swear to God!” This instinct to invoke God’s name is an attempt to lend credibility to one’s words. Such a practice finds its roots in several Old Testament teachings, where the people of Israel were instructed not to profane God’s name by swearing falsely (cf. Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12). The Old Testament teaching on oaths was not only a prohibition against profaning God’s name but also a way of promoting trust and honesty among the Israelites: “When a man makes a vow to the LORD or binds himself under oath to a pledge, he shall not violate his word, but must fulfill exactly the promise he has uttered” (Numbers 30:3). Over time, however, the practice of swearing oaths began to shift. Instead of invoking God’s name directly, people began to swear by created things, such as…

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Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Matthew 5:33–34, 37, Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:3

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