It is impossible to be righteous and not be a person of your word. It is impossible to be righteousness without integrity. It is impossible to be righteous without being intentionally conscientious about your “yeas” and “nays”.
The Pharisees—whose righteousness fell short of entering the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20)—were notorious for playing games with their words. Jesus gives clear examples of these sinful games when He condemned their actions in Matthew 23:16-18. Here, it is written: “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it… ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’”
People who play games with their word—who believe themselves to be obligated to keep their word only when they have bound themselves by a specifically stated oath—are people who have a spirit of falsehood in their hearts. It is not a game a righteous person plays.
It is impossible to be righteous without being a person of your word.
Every time.
All the way down to your “yes” and “no”s.
