“My Word Is My Bond”A d’rash for parshat Mattot

B’midbar (Numbers) 30:2(1)–32:42

By Rabbi Reuel Dillon

Since 1801 the motto of the London Stock Exchange expressed in Latin was, "dictum meum pactum". Translated to English it means, “My Word Is My Bond”. This motto expressed the practice where agreements and transactions were made with no exchange of documents and no written pledges being given. The assurance was the integrity and word of the individual. People’s livelihood depended on it. Their life was bound up in their word, and trust was not something to be taken lightly.

Promises or offers to help or to do something should not be made lightly. The trustworthy person doesn’t rashly issue vain words that sound good at the time, of which they either don’t intend to follow through with, or of which they are not confident they can fulfill. If someone makes a promise or says they will do something of importance - it should be something that an individual fully intends to carry out. The responsible person will carefully think about their ability, means, and dedication to carry something out before they give their word to accomplish something. And, the trustworthy person immediately takes steps to ensure that the word or promise is carried out to the best of their ability.

In B’midbar (Numbers) 30:1-2 we read, “Moshe spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Yisra'el, saying, This is the thing which HaShem has commanded. When a man vows a vow to HaShem, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”

Here we have two situations described in the above mitzvah (command). The first deals with keeping our words to Adonai Himself, and I believe the second deals with keeping one’s oath or word in general. How many times have we prayed to God and told Him we would do something only to fail Him? If we really think about it, we are all probably guilty of this. But, we should know that God doesn’t take our promises to Him lightly. In Devarim (Deuteronomy) 23:21-23 we read, “When you shall vow a vow to HaShem your God, you shall not be slack to pay it: for HaShem your God will surely require it of you; and it would be sin in you. But if you shall forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in you. That which is gone out of your lips you shall observe and do; according as you have vowed to HaShem your God, a freewill-offering, which you have promised with your mouth.”.

And, especially for those whom claim to be servants of El Elyon (God Most High), and disciples of His Messsiah Yeshua…part of keeping our Master’s command to let our light shine before men (as found in Mattityahu/Matthew chapter 5) and thus glorifying our Father in Heaven is to be keepers of our word. We will not be a people of truth and integrity if we are not keepers of our word. If we cannot have the integrity to follow through with our words and our commitments, especially as we seek to become witnesses for Adonai and for His Son Yeshua The Messiah, than how will this effect our witness when it comes to teaching God’s truth and Good News to a fallen world? People have to trust the messengers of God. Sadly, today I can’t help but get the sense that people that hold such values as expressed in the phrase “My word is my bond” are few and far between. But, there are people today that still fulfill their vows and promises, even if it means a personal loss or inconvenience for them. These are the type of people that our God wishes us to be. But, all too often many people make promises only to ask for forgiveness later. Again, Adonai takes these things very seriously, therefore, so should we.

In Mattityahu (Matthew) 5:33-37 our Master and Rabbi Yeshua teaches us the following, "Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Yerushalayim, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'no.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.”.

The Emissary Ya’akov (James) found this teaching so important that he states it this wayin Ya’akov (James) 5:12; “But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no;" so that you don't fall into hypocrisy.”

Not only are we to be concerned with being people of integrity, but we also want to avoid being hypocrites. Ya’akov (James) connects hypocrisy with not following through with our words. Normally we understand “hypocrisy” as saying one thing and then acting in a way that contradicts what we said. In like manner, if we say something, and yet do nothing, we also contradict ourselves and are found to be hypocrites. And, we know that scripture tells us that those whom practice hypocrisy will have their part in the Lake Of Fire. In one version (KJV) of Yeshaiyahu (Isaiah) 33:10-14 we read, “Now will I arise, says HaShem; now will I lift up myself; now will I be exalted. You shall conceive chaff, you shall bring forth stubble: your breath is a fire that shall devour you. The peoples shall be as the burning of lime, as thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire. Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and, you who are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

The Hebrew word used for “hypocrites” here is from the root “chanef”, which can mean “hypocrite”, but it also has the meaning “to soil”. When we break our word, we soil our word and reputation. Yeshaiyahu notes how the hypocrites will be surprised. But our Master warns us not to be surprised. Yeshua tells us in Luke 12:35-40, "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning. Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most assuredly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don't expect him.".

In Luke 12:1-5 Yeshua The Messiah teaches us about hypocrisy, about the words that we speak, and the coming day of judgment. It says, “Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his talmidim (disciples) first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Perushim (Pharisees), which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up, that will not be revealed, nor hidden, that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers will be proclaimed on the housetops. "I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear. Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehinnom. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”.

We cannot become complacent and assume that these words were not meant for us. He was speaking to His talmidim (disciples), to those whom claim to know him and walk with Him. Oh how we need a healthy sense of the fear of God! We probably all have room for improvement in the area of following through with the words that we speak and following through with keeping what we say to both God and mankind. But, let us be alert and be careful how we conduct ourselves and be circumspect in regards to our daily conversation. God is full of grace and mercy, but He will not turn a blind eye to those whom practice lawlessness…even if they are His children.

In the book of Yechezk’el (Ezekiel) 18:21-24 we read, “But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says Adonai HaShem; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live? But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.”. And, in Yechezk’el (Ezekiel) 18:31-32 it concludes with the following statement, “Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have

transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Yisra'el? For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says Adonai HaShem: therefore turn yourselves, and live.”

In Pirke Avot (a collection of sayings from the Jewish Sages), Rabbi Shammai teaches that one should, “Say little and do much!”. I think this is excellent wisdom that not only coincides with the teachings found in our Torah portion (parshat Mattot), but is also wisdom that will help to keep us all out of trouble. Not only will we give more than what people expect, but we will not be found guilty of breaking our words. Adonai commands us to be holy as He is holy. He is faithful and always follows through with His words and promises. Truly, when it comes to the God whom we serve, His word is His Bond. He takes His word so seriously that in Tehillim (Psalms) 138:2, a more literal rendering of the text states, “I will worship toward your holy temple, And give thanks unto your name for your loving kindness and for your truth: For you have magnified your word above all thy name.”

Mishlei (Proverbs) 22:1 says, “A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [And] loving favor rather than silver and gold.”. Having integrity and keeping our word is a major aspect of having a “good name”. This is one of the reasons why God Himself takes it so seriously. If we do promise or give our word to accomplish something, let us give diligence, as Adonai would, to complete and fulfill the words that come from our mouths. If we claim to be B’nay El Elyon (children of The Most High), let us also act like it. Following through with our words is very much a part of living a holy, Torah pursuant, and scripture centered life. May Adonai empower us through His Spirit to walk in His ways.

In the good name of Yeshua our Messiah,

Shabbat shalom!

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