No Fine Print
“But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:37
Have you ever clicked “I agree” on something without reading the fine print? We all have. That fine print is where people tend to hide the real terms, the stuff that might change your mind if you actually read it. The Pharisees had spiritual fine print behind everything they said. They made fancy oaths that sounded committed, but behind the scenes, they were leaving themselves room to break promises and stay technically innocent.
Jesus had no patience for that. He didn’t want loopholes. He wanted truth. And He still does. He said if you’re going to say yes, mean it. If you’re going to say no, stand on it. You don’t need to dress it up with oaths or swearing by anything holy. Just be the kind of person whose word means something.
That’s what integrity really is. It’s being the same all the way through. It’s not flashy on the outside and cracked underneath. The word integrity literally means “whole.” When you speak, people shouldn’t have to wonder if there’s a catch. If they have to read between the lines, that’s not integrity.
In the ancient world, there were dishonest merchants who sold cracked porcelain by covering the flaws with wax. From a distance, it looked perfect. But when held to the light, the wax was exposed. That’s why honest vendors started stamping their pottery with the phrase “sine cera,” meaning “without wax.” That’s what Jesus wants from us. Words that are pure when held up to the light.
We live in a world where truth is often bent, padded, or softened. But your life can stand out. You can be the person who doesn’t need loopholes or clever explanations. You just say what you mean, and you mean what you say.
Jesus said anything beyond that… is not just dishonest, it’s evil. So today, ask yourself: Am I hiding behind fine print? Or can my words be held up to the light and still be pure?
Have you ever clicked “I agree” on something without reading the fine print? We all have. That fine print is where people tend to hide the real terms, the stuff that might change your mind if you actually read it. The Pharisees had spiritual fine print behind everything they said. They made fancy oaths that sounded committed, but behind the scenes, they were leaving themselves room to break promises and stay technically innocent.
Jesus had no patience for that. He didn’t want loopholes. He wanted truth. And He still does. He said if you’re going to say yes, mean it. If you’re going to say no, stand on it. You don’t need to dress it up with oaths or swearing by anything holy. Just be the kind of person whose word means something.
That’s what integrity really is. It’s being the same all the way through. It’s not flashy on the outside and cracked underneath. The word integrity literally means “whole.” When you speak, people shouldn’t have to wonder if there’s a catch. If they have to read between the lines, that’s not integrity.
In the ancient world, there were dishonest merchants who sold cracked porcelain by covering the flaws with wax. From a distance, it looked perfect. But when held to the light, the wax was exposed. That’s why honest vendors started stamping their pottery with the phrase “sine cera,” meaning “without wax.” That’s what Jesus wants from us. Words that are pure when held up to the light.
We live in a world where truth is often bent, padded, or softened. But your life can stand out. You can be the person who doesn’t need loopholes or clever explanations. You just say what you mean, and you mean what you say.
Jesus said anything beyond that… is not just dishonest, it’s evil. So today, ask yourself: Am I hiding behind fine print? Or can my words be held up to the light and still be pure?
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