The answer is: Oaths

Matt 5:36

In Matthew 5:36, we’re diving into a fascinating section of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus offers strong teachings on ethics and honesty. When He remarked about not being able to change the color of a single hair, it highlights a point about the limitations of human power. Instead of bolstering one's promises with oaths - essentially invoking greater authority - He emphasizes a life grounded in integrity.

This topic of oaths wasn’t just a casual matter; the Jewish tradition grappled with pledges to the point where people used oaths to lend more seriousness to their words, sometimes wading into redirection and deceit. Jesus’ broader message here urges believers to let their “yes” be “yes” and their “no,” “no.” In a way, He’s beckoning us to a plain-spoken honesty, without embellishments, curling around thicker than the quicksand of trying to manipulate perceptions.

Extra tidbit: If we look back at ancient cultures, many had similar teachings about the sacredness of speech. In some cases, people believed oaths bind not just the speaker but the very cosmos! However, what makes Jesus' perspective refreshing is the internal moral compass He’s encouraging - honesty weighs more than oaths. So, in Jesus' call for straightforwardness lies an invitation—to cultivate internal integrity as the foundation of our external promises.