1. What is the highest form of love, and how would you describe it? (See opening picture.)

JEHOVAH is the Source of love. (1 John 4:7) The highest form of love is based on right principles. In the Bible, this type of love is described by the Greek word a·gaʹpe. This love can include affection and warm feelings for someone, but it involves more than simply feelings. It is shown by unselfish actions for the benefit of others. It is love that motivates us to do good things for others. This kind of love gives us joy and meaning in life.

2, 3. How has Jehovah shown unselfish love for humans?

² Jehovah showed love for humans even before he created Adam and Eve. He made the earth so that it would have everything we would need to survive. More than that, he made it into a home where we could really enjoy life. Jehovah did not do this for himself. He did it for us. Once our home was ready, he created humans and gave them the hope of living forever on a paradise earth.

³ Later, Jehovah expressed his unselfish love for humans in the greatest way possible. Although Adam and Eve had rebelled, Jehovah was so sure that some of their descendants would love him that he arranged for the ransom sacrifice of his Son to save them. (Genesis 3:15; 1 John 4:10) From the moment Jehovah promised the ransom, it was as if that sacrifice had already been made. Then, 4,000 years later, Jehovah gave his only-begotten Son for humans. (John 3:16) We are very grateful for Jehovah’s love!

4. How do we know that imperfect humans can show unselfish love?

⁴ Can we show unselfish love, even though we are imperfect? Yes, we can. Jehovah created us in his image, that is, with the ability to imitate him. It is not always easy for us to show unselfish love, but it is possible. Abel showed love for God when he unselfishly offered the best of what he had. (Genesis 4:3, 4) Noah showed unselfish love when he continued to preach God’s message for many years even though the people did not listen. (2 Peter 2:5) And Abraham showed that his love for God was stronger than anything else by being willing to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. (James 2:21) Like those faithful men, we also want to show love even when it is not easy.

WHAT IS GENUINE LOVE?

5. In what ways can we show genuine love?

⁵ The Bible tells us that we show genuine love “not in word or with the tongue, but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:18) Does this mean that we cannot express love by what we say? No. (1 Thessalonians 4:18) It means that it is not always enough simply to say “I love you.” We need to show that we mean it. For example, if our brothers or sisters do not have enough food or clothing, they need more than kind words. (James 2:15, 16) In a similar way, because we love Jehovah and our neighbor, we not only pray for more people to preach with us but also work hard in the preaching work ourselves.​—Matthew 9:38.

6, 7. (a) What is “love free from hypocrisy”? (b) What are some examples of fake love?

⁶ The apostle John said that we must love “in deed and truth.” So our love must be “without hypocrisy,” or “free from hypocrisy.” (Romans 12:9; 2 Corinthians 6:6) At times a person might pretend to show love. But is his love real and sincere? What are his motives? There is no such thing as love with hypocrisy. Fake love is worthless.

⁷ Let us consider some examples of fake love. When Satan talked to Eve in the garden of Eden, what he said made it seem that he wanted the best for her. But his actions showed that he did not. (Genesis 3:4, 5) When David was king, he had a friend named Ahithophel. But Ahithophel betrayed David to benefit himself. His actions showed that he was not a true friend. (2 Samuel 15:31) Today, apostates and others who create divisions in the congregation use “smooth talk and flattering speech.” (Romans 16:17, 18) They may pretend to care about others, but in reality, they are selfish.

8. What question should we ask ourselves?

⁸ Fake love is especially shameful because it is used to deceive people. We may be able to fool humans, but we cannot fool Jehovah. Jesus said that those who act like hypocrites would be punished “with the greatest severity.” (Matthew 24:51) As Jehovah’s servants, we never want to be hypocritical. So we should ask ourselves, ‘Is my love genuine, or am I selfish and dishonest?’ Let us consider nine ways we can show love that is “free from hypocrisy.”

HOW WE CAN LOVE “IN DEED AND TRUTH”

9. What will genuine love motivate us to do?

⁹ Be happy to serve even if no one notices what you do. We should be willing to do loving and kind things for others, things that no one else will ever know about. (Read Matthew 6:1-4.) Ananias and Sapphira had a different attitude. When they made a donation, they wanted others to know about it. They lied about how much they were giving, and they were punished for their hypocrisy. (Acts 5:1-10) But if we really love our brothers, we will be happy to do kind things for them without wanting others to know what we have done. We can learn from the brothers who help the Governing Body prepare spiritual food. They do not draw attention to themselves, and they do not let people know what projects they have worked on.

10. How can we show honor to others?

¹⁰ Show honor to others. (Read Romans 12:10.) Jesus showed honor to his apostles when he washed their feet. (John 13:3-5, 12-15) We should work hard to become humble like Jesus and serve others. The apostles did not fully understand what Jesus had done until much later, when they received holy spirit. (John 13:7) We show honor to others by not thinking that we are better than they are because we are better educated, are richer, or have special assignments. (Romans 12:3) We are not jealous when others receive praise, but we rejoice with them even if we feel that we should have received some of the praise as well.

11. Why must our commendation be sincere?

¹¹ Give sincere commendation. Look for opportunities to commend others. We all know that commendation is “good for building up” one another. (Ephesians 4:29) But we want to make sure that what we say is sincere and is not said just to flatter others. We should not say something we do not mean or avoid our responsibility to give necessary counsel. (Proverbs 29:5) We would be hypocrites if we commended others and then later criticized them behind their back. The apostle Paul’s love was genuine. When he wrote to the Christians in Corinth, he commended them for what they were doing well. (1 Corinthians 11:2) But when they needed counsel, he explained the reason to them kindly and clearly.​—1 Corinthians 11:20-22.

12. How can we show genuine love when we offer hospitality?

¹² Be hospitable. Jehovah commands us to be generous with our brothers and sisters. (Read 1 John 3:17.) But we must have the right motive for being hospitable. We can ask ourselves: ‘Do I invite to my home only my close friends or only those whom I consider to be important in the congregation? Do I invite only people who I think will do something for me in return? Or am I generous with brothers and sisters whom I do not know well or who cannot do something for me?’ (Luke 14:12-14) Imagine these situations: What if a brother needs help because of some unwise decisions he made? Or what if someone we invited to our home never thanked us? Jehovah tells us: “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9) We will be happy when we give with the right motive.​—Acts 20:35.

13. (a) When might we need more patience? (b) What can we do to help those who are weak?

¹³ Help those who are weak. The Bible’s command to “support the weak, be patient toward all” can test if our love is genuine. (1 Thessalonians 5:14) Many brothers who were weak later became strong in the faith. But others continue to need our patient and loving help. How can we help them? We can use the Bible to encourage them, we can invite them to preach with us, or we can just listen to them. Also, we should not think of our brothers and sisters as simply being either “strong” or “weak.” Instead, we should realize that we all have both strengths and weaknesses. Even the apostle Paul admitted that he had weaknesses. (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10) All of us need help and encouragement from one another.

14. What should we be willing to do to maintain peace with our brothers?

¹⁴ Make peace. Peace with our brothers is very precious. Even if we feel that we have been misunderstood or treated unfairly, we should do everything we can to make peace. (Read Romans 12:17, 18.) If we have hurt someone’s feelings, we may simply need to apologize. But we must be sincere. For example, instead of saying, “I am sorry that you feel that way,” it would be better to admit our fault by saying, “I am sorry that I hurt you by what I said.” Peace is especially important in a marriage. It would be wrong for a husband and wife to act as if they loved each other in front of others while privately they refused to talk to each other, said hurtful things to each other, or were even violent.

15. How can we show that our forgiveness is genuine?

¹⁵ Forgive freely. If someone offends us, we forgive him and let go of our hurt feelings. We should do this even if he does not realize that he offended us. We freely forgive by “putting up with one another in love, earnestly endeavoring to maintain the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2, 3) In order to forgive genuinely, we must stop thinking about what the person did. Love “does not keep account of the injury.” (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5) In fact, if we held a grudge, we could harm our relationship with our brother or sister and also with Jehovah. (Matthew 6:14, 15) We prove that our forgiveness is sincere when we pray for the person who offended us.​—Luke 6:27, 28.

16. How should we feel about special assignments in Jehovah’s service?

¹⁶ Sacrifice personal advantages. When we receive a special assignment in Jehovah’s service, we can prove that our love is genuine by “seeking, not [our] own advantage, but that of the other person.” (1 Corinthians 10:24) For example, at our assemblies and conventions, the attendants enter the facility before others and could be tempted to save the best seats for themselves and their families. Instead, many of them choose less favorable seats within their assigned section. By doing so, they show unselfish love. How could you imitate their good example?

17. If a Christian commits a serious sin, what will genuine love motivate him to do?

¹⁷ Confess and stop secret sins. Some Christians who have committed a serious sin have tried to keep it secret. Perhaps they are embarrassed or do not want to disappoint others. (Proverbs 28:13) But hiding the sin is unloving because it harms both the sinner and others. How? Jehovah might stop blessing the congregation with his holy spirit, and the congregation would not have peace. (Ephesians 4:30) So if a Christian commits a serious sin, genuine love will motivate him to speak to the elders and get the help he needs.​—James 5:14, 15.

18. How important is genuine love?

¹⁸ Love is the greatest of all qualities. (1 Corinthians 13:13) It helps people to see who are true followers of Jesus and to see who really imitate Jehovah, the Source of love. (Ephesians 5:1, 2) Paul said that if he did not have love, he would be nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2) May each of us continue to show our love, not just “in word” but also “in deed and truth.”

1, 2. (a) What peace can we have now? (b) Why is it not possible for us to have complete peace yet? (See opening picture.)

WE ALL want peace in our lives, and we want to avoid anxiety. So we are very thankful that Jehovah gives us “the peace of God.” That peace is a calmness that can protect us from upsetting thoughts and feelings. (Philippians 4:6, 7) Because we have dedicated ourselves to Jehovah, we also have “peace with God.” This means that we have a good relationship with him.​—Romans 5:1.

² However, it is not yet God’s time to bring complete peace to the earth. We live in the last days, so there are many problems that cause us anxiety. We are surrounded by violent people. (2 Timothy 3:1-4) We also have to fight against Satan and the false teachings he promotes. (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5) But what may cause us the greatest anxiety is opposition from our relatives who do not serve Jehovah. Some of them might make fun of our beliefs or accuse us of dividing the family. They may even say that we can no longer be part of the family unless we stop serving Jehovah. So how should we view opposition from our family? And how can we maintain our peace when this happens?

HOW SHOULD WE VIEW OPPOSITION FROM OUR FAMILY?

3, 4. (a) What effect do Jesus’ teachings have? (b) When would it be especially difficult to follow Jesus?

³ Jesus knew that not everyone would accept his teachings. He also knew that his disciples would need courage because some would oppose them. This opposition could affect the peace of their families. Jesus said: “Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword. For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.”​—Matthew 10:34-36.

⁴ What did Jesus mean when he said “Do not think I came to bring peace”? He wanted people to know that there would be consequences if they became his disciples. Of course, Jesus’ purpose was to teach people the truth about God, not to divide families. (John 18:37) But his disciples needed to know that it would not always be easy to follow him, especially if their close friends or family members did not accept the truth.

5. What have Jesus’ followers experienced?

⁵ Jesus said that opposition from family is one of the things his followers must be willing to endure. (Matthew 10:38) In order to please him, Jesus’ disciples have endured when their families made fun of them or even rejected them. But they have gained far more than they have lost.​—Read Mark 10:29, 30.

6. What must we remember if our relatives oppose us?

⁶ Even if our relatives oppose us because we worship Jehovah, we still love them. We must remember, however, that our love for God and Christ needs to be stronger than our love for anyone else. (Matthew 10:37) We also need to be aware that Satan could use our love for our family to cause us to be disloyal to Jehovah. Let us discuss some difficult situations and see how we can endure.

AN UNBELIEVING MATE

7. How should you view your situation if your mate does not serve Jehovah?

⁷ The Bible warns us that anyone who gets married “will have tribulation,” or problems. (1 Corinthians 7:28) If you are married to someone who does not serve Jehovah, this may add more stress and anxiety to your marriage. However, it is important that you view your situation the way Jehovah does. He says that we cannot separate from or divorce our mate just because he or she does not serve Jehovah. (1 Corinthians 7:12-16) If your husband does not serve Jehovah and does not take the lead in true worship, you still need to respect him as the head of your family. And if your wife does not serve Jehovah, you still need to love her and tenderly care for her.​—Ephesians 5:22, 23, 28, 29.

8. What questions can you ask yourself if your mate tries to limit your worship?

⁸ What should you do if your mate tries to limit your worship? The husband of one sister told her that she could use only certain days of the week to go in the ministry. If you are in a similar situation, ask yourself: ‘Is my mate asking me to stop worshipping Jehovah completely? If not, can I do what my mate is asking?’ If you are reasonable, you will have fewer problems in your marriage.​—Philippians 4:5.

9. How can Christians teach their children to honor an unbelieving parent?

⁹ It can be difficult to train your children if your mate does not serve Jehovah. For example, you need to teach your children to obey the Bible’s command: “Honor your father and your mother.” (Ephesians 6:1-3) But what should you do if your mate does not follow Bible standards? You can set a good example for your children by honoring your mate. Think about his or her good qualities, and tell your mate that you are grateful for all the good things he or she does. Do not say negative things about your mate in front of your children. Instead, explain to them that each person must choose whether to serve Jehovah. If you train your children to honor their unbelieving parent, their good example may make your mate want to learn about Jehovah.

10. How can Christian parents teach their children to love Jehovah?

¹⁰ Some unbelieving mates may want their children to celebrate pagan holidays or learn false religious teachings. Some husbands may also forbid the Christian wife to teach the Bible to the children. But even in such a situation, a wife will do what she can to teach her children the truth. (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 3:14, 15) For example, an unbelieving husband may not want his wife to have a formal Bible study with the children or take them to the meetings. While she respects his decision, she can still talk to her children about her beliefs whenever possible. In that way, they can learn about Jehovah and his standards of right and wrong. (Acts 4:19, 20) In the end, the children will have to decide whether they will serve Jehovah.a (See footnote.)​—Deuteronomy 30:19, 20.

RELATIVES WHO OPPOSE TRUE WORSHIP

11. What may cause a problem with our relatives who do not serve Jehovah?

¹¹ When we first began studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses, we may not have informed our family. But as our faith grew, we realized that we needed to tell them that we wanted to serve Jehovah. (Mark 8:38) Your loyalty to God may have caused a problem between you and your family. Let us discuss some things that you can do to maintain peace and still remain faithful to Jehovah.

12. Why may our relatives oppose us, but how can we show them that we care about their feelings?

¹² Try to understand how your unbelieving relatives feel. We are so happy that we know the truth from the Bible. However, our relatives may believe that we have been tricked or have become part of a strange religious group. They may think that we do not love them anymore because we do not celebrate holidays with them. They may even fear that something bad will happen to us after we die. We need to try to understand how they feel and listen carefully to what they say in order to know why they are concerned about us. (Proverbs 20:5) The apostle Paul tried to understand “people of all sorts” so that he could teach them the good news. If we try to understand our family members, this may actually help us know how to teach them the truth.​—1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

13. How should we speak with our unbelieving relatives?

¹³ Speak with mildness. “Let your words always be gracious,” says the Bible. (Colossians 4:6) That may not be easy. We can ask Jehovah for his holy spirit to help us to be mild and kind to our relatives. We should not try to argue with them about all their false beliefs. If we feel hurt by something they say or do, we can imitate the apostles. Paul said: “When insulted, we bless; when persecuted, we patiently endure; when slandered, we answer mildly.”​—1 Corinthians 4:12, 13.

14. What are the benefits of good conduct?

¹⁴ Maintain good conduct. Why is that important? Although speaking in a mild way can help us keep peace with our relatives, our good conduct can be even more powerful. (Read 1 Peter 3:1, 2, 16.) Let your relatives see from your example that Jehovah’s Witnesses have happy marriages, take good care of their children, live by Bible standards, and have a meaningful life. Even if our relatives never accept the truth, we can be happy knowing that our good conduct pleases Jehovah.

15. How can we plan ahead so that we can avoid arguments with our relatives?

¹⁵ Plan ahead. Think about situations that might cause arguments with your relatives. Then decide what you will do. (Proverbs 12:16, 23) That is what one sister in Australia did. Her father-in-law strongly opposed the truth and would sometimes get angry. So before calling him, she and her husband would ask Jehovah to help them avoid answering him in an angry way. They would think of pleasant subjects they could talk about. And to avoid long conversations that would usually lead to arguments about religion, they set a time limit for the calls.

16. How can you overcome feelings of guilt about displeasing your relatives?

¹⁶ Of course, you cannot avoid all disagreements with your unbelieving relatives. So when there is a disagreement, you may feel guilty because you love your relatives and want to please them. But remember that your loyalty to Jehovah must be stronger than your love for your family. When your relatives realize this, they may understand how important serving Jehovah is. You cannot force anyone to accept the truth. You can, however, let others see how following Jehovah’s ways has helped you. And really, Jehovah offers them the same opportunity he offers us, to choose to serve him.​—Isaiah 48:17, 18.

IF A FAMILY MEMBER LEAVES JEHOVAH

17, 18. What can help you if a family member leaves Jehovah?

¹⁷ When a family member is disfellowshipped or disassociates himself from the congregation, it can be extremely difficult. It can be so painful that it may feel as if someone is stabbing you with a sword. How can you endure this pain?

¹⁸ Keep focused on your service to Jehovah. When you have that kind of pain, you need to strengthen your own faith. Read the Bible regularly, prepare for and go to the meetings, continue preaching, and pray to Jehovah to give you the strength to endure. (Jude 20, 21) What if you are doing all of this and the pain does not go away? Do not give up! Keep focused on your service to Jehovah. In time, this will help you to control your thoughts and your feelings. That is what happened to the writer of Psalm 73. He went through a time in his life when it was difficult for him to control his thoughts and feelings. But worshipping Jehovah helped him to view things the right way again. (Psalm 73:16, 17) It can be the same for you.

19. How can you show respect for the way Jehovah disciplines his people?

¹⁹ Respect the discipline of Jehovah. God knows that his discipline will benefit everyone involved, including the one who is disfellowshipped. Even though it is very painful when someone we love is disciplined, it can help him or her to return to Jehovah in the future. (Read Hebrews 12:11.) Until then, we must respect Jehovah’s direction to “stop keeping company” with those who are disfellowshipped. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13) This is not easy. But we must avoid contact with them by telephone, text messages, letters, e-mails, or social media.

20. What should we keep hoping for?

²⁰ Never give up hope! Love “hopes all things,” so we keep hoping our loved ones will return to Jehovah. (1 Corinthians 13:7) If you see evidence that a close family member is improving his or her attitude, you could pray for him or her to gain strength from the Bible and accept Jehovah’s invitation: “Return to me.”​—Isaiah 44:22.

21. What should you do if your family opposes you because you are following Jesus?

²¹ Jesus said that we must love him more than we love any human. And Jesus was sure that his disciples would have the courage to remain loyal to him even if their family opposed them. So if your family opposes you because you are following Jesus, rely on Jehovah. Ask him to help you endure successfully. (Isaiah 41:10, 13) Find happiness in knowing that Jehovah and Jesus are pleased with you and that they will reward your faithfulness.

1-3. (a) When Zechariah started to prophesy, what was the situation of Jehovah’s people? (b) Why did Jehovah ask his people to return to him?

A FLYING scroll, a woman inside a container, and two women soaring in the wind with wings like those of storks. These are some of the exciting visions that Zechariah saw. (Zechariah 5:1, 7-9) Why did Jehovah give these amazing visions to his prophet? What was the situation of the Israelites at that time? And how can we benefit from these visions today?

² It was the year 537 before Christ, and Jehovah’s people were very joyful. They had been captive in Babylon for 70 long years, but now they were free! They were excited to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and worship Jehovah there. One year later, the Israelites laid the foundation of the temple. The people were very happy, and they were “shouting so loudly that the sound was heard from a great distance.” (Ezra 3:10-13) But opposition to the building work got stronger and stronger. The Israelites became so discouraged that they stopped building the temple. Instead, they focused on building their own homes and cultivating their fields. Sixteen years later, Jehovah’s temple was still not finished. God’s people needed a reminder to return to Jehovah and to stop thinking about themselves. Jehovah wanted them to worship him with zeal and courage.

³ So in the year 520, Jehovah sent his prophet Zechariah to help the people remember why He had freed them from Babylon. It is interesting that Zechariah’s name means “Jehovah Has Remembered.” Even though the Israelites had forgotten what Jehovah had done for them, God still remembered them. (Read Zechariah 1:3, 4.) Jehovah promised to help them restore pure worship. But he also warned them that he would accept their worship only if they gave him their best. Let us examine Zechariah’s sixth and seventh visions. We will learn how Jehovah motivated the Israelites and how these two visions can help us today.

GOD’S JUDGMENT AGAINST THOSE WHO STEAL

4. What did Zechariah see in his sixth vision? Why did the scroll have writing on both sides? (See opening picture 1.)

⁴ Chapter 5 of Zechariah begins with an unusual vision. (Read Zechariah 5:1, 2.) Zechariah saw a scroll flying through the air. This scroll was almost 9 meters (30 feet) long and 4.5 meters (15 feet) wide. The scroll was open, and a message was written on it. (Zechariah 5:3) It was a serious message of judgment. In ancient times, people usually wrote on only one side of a scroll. But this message was so important that both sides of the scroll were written on.

5, 6. How does Jehovah feel about any kind of stealing?

⁵ Read Zechariah 5:3, 4. All humans are responsible to God for their actions. This is especially true for Jehovah’s people, because they are called by his name. They love him and know that stealing brings shame on his name. (Proverbs 30:8, 9) Some people may think that it is not wrong to steal if they have a good reason. But no matter how good the reason seems, a person who steals shows that his greedy desire is more important to him than Jehovah, His name, and His law.

⁶ Did you notice that Zechariah 5:3, 4 says that the curse would “enter into the house of the thief” and that it would “remain inside that house and consume it”? So Jehovah can reveal and judge any wrongdoing among his people. Even if a person who steals could hide what he is doing from police, employers, elders, or parents, he cannot hide it from Jehovah. God will make sure that any kind of stealing will be revealed. (Hebrews 4:13) We truly enjoy being with people who do their best to be honest “in all things”!​—Hebrews 13:18.

7. How can we avoid the curse of the flying scroll?

⁷ Any kind of stealing offends Jehovah. It is an honor for us to know and obey Jehovah’s principles regarding right and wrong and to live in a way that does not bring shame on his name. By doing this we will avoid Jehovah’s judgment against people who do not obey him.

KEEP YOUR WORD “DAY AFTER DAY”

8-10. (a) What is an oath? (b) What oath did King Zedekiah break?

⁸ Next, the flying scroll delivered a warning message to those who make “a false oath” in God’s name. (Zechariah 5:4) An oath is a statement that confirms that something is true or a serious promise to do or not to do a certain thing.

⁹ To make an oath in the name of Jehovah is a very serious matter. We learn this from what happened to Zedekiah, the last king to rule in Jerusalem. Zedekiah made an oath in Jehovah’s name that he would submit to the king of Babylon. But Zedekiah did not keep his promise. For this reason, Jehovah said that Zedekiah would “die in Babylon, in the place where the king who made him king lives, the one whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke.”​—Ezekiel 17:16.

¹⁰ King Zedekiah had made his oath in God’s name, and Jehovah expected him to keep it. (2 Chronicles 36:13) But Zedekiah broke his promise and asked Egypt to help him break free from Babylon. Still, Egypt could not help him.​—Ezekiel 17:11-15, 17, 18.

11, 12. (a) What is the most important promise we will ever make? (b) How should our dedication affect our daily life?

¹¹ From what happened to Zedekiah, we learn that Jehovah listens to the promises we make. To please him, we must keep our promises. (Psalm 76:11) The most important promise we can make is our dedication to Jehovah. When we dedicate ourselves to him, we promise that we will serve him no matter what happens in our life.

¹² How can we keep our promise to Jehovah? “Day after day” we have both large and small tests. We show how strong our relationship with Jehovah is by the way we handle these tests. (Psalm 61:8) For example, what will you do if someone at work or at school starts to flirt with you? Will you reject the attention and show that you want to obey Jehovah? (Proverbs 23:26) Or what if you are the only one in your family who worships Jehovah? Do you ask Jehovah to help you to continue to behave in a Christian way? No matter what situation you are in, do you thank Jehovah every day for his love and guidance? Are you making time to read the Bible daily? In a way, we promised to do these things when we dedicated our life to Jehovah. When we obey him and give him our best, we show Jehovah that we love him and belong to him. Our worship is a way of life. And because we are faithful to Jehovah, he promises us a wonderful future.​—Deuteronomy 10:12, 13.

13. What can we learn from Zechariah’s sixth vision?

¹³ The sixth vision of Zechariah helps us to understand that if we love Jehovah, we will not steal or break our promises. We also learn that even though the Israelites made many mistakes, Jehovah kept his promise and did not abandon his people. He understood that they were in a very difficult situation with enemies all around them. By his own example, Jehovah teaches us that we should keep our promises. And we can be sure that he will help us to do so. One way Jehovah helps us is by giving us a hope for the future. Soon, he will end all wickedness on the earth. We can read about this hope in Zechariah’s next vision.

JEHOVAH REMOVES THE WICKED

14, 15. (a) What did Zechariah see in his seventh vision? (See opening picture 2.) (b) Who was the woman inside the container? Why did the angel seal the container?

¹⁴ After Zechariah saw the flying scroll, an angel told him: “Look up.” Zechariah then saw a container called an “ephah.” (Read Zechariah 5:5-8.) The container had a round lid made of lead. When the container was opened, Zechariah saw “a woman sitting inside.” The angel explained to Zechariah that the woman inside the container was “Wickedness.” Imagine Zechariah’s horror as he saw the woman try to get out! But the angel quickly threw the woman back inside and sealed the container with its heavy lid. What does this mean?

¹⁵ This vision gives us confidence that Jehovah will not allow any kind of wickedness among his people. If Jehovah sees something bad, he will act quickly to remove it. (1 Corinthians 5:13) The angel showed this when he immediately put the heavy lid over the container.

16. (a) What happened to the container? (See opening picture 3.) (b) Where did the women with wings take the container?

¹⁶ Next, Zechariah saw two women who had strong wings like storks’ wings. (Read Zechariah 5:9-11.) These women were completely different from the wicked woman in the container. With their powerful wings, they lifted up the container with “Wickedness” inside and flew away. Where did they take her? They took the container to “the land of Shinar,” which was Babylon. Why would they take her there?

17, 18. (a) Why was Babylon the “proper place” for “Wickedness”? (b) What are you determined to do?

¹⁷ The Israelites who lived in Zechariah’s day would have understood why Babylon would be the right place to take “Wickedness.” They knew that it was a wicked city full of immorality and false worship. Zechariah and other Jews who had lived there had tried hard every day to resist its pagan influence. So this vision guaranteed that Jehovah would keep his worship clean.

¹⁸ The vision also reminded the Jews that they too had a responsibility to keep their worship pure. Wickedness cannot and will not be allowed among God’s people. Today, Jehovah has brought us into his clean organization, where we feel his love and protection. Each of us has a responsibility to help keep it clean. Wickedness must not exist among Jehovah’s people.

CLEAN PEOPLE HONOR JEHOVAH

19. What do Zechariah’s exciting visions mean for us today?

¹⁹ Zechariah’s sixth and seventh visions are a serious warning to those who do what is bad. Jehovah will not allow wickedness to continue. As his servants, we must hate wickedness. These visions also reassure us that if we work to please our loving Father, he will not curse us but will protect and bless us. Even though it may be difficult to remain clean in this wicked world, with Jehovah’s help we can succeed! But how can we be sure that true worship will survive? And as we get closer to the great tribulation, how do we know that Jehovah will protect his organization? We will discuss these questions in the next article.

1, 2. What was the situation of the Jews in Jerusalem at the end of Zechariah’s seventh vision?

AS Zechariah’s seventh vision ended, he had much to think about. He must have felt strengthened by Jehovah’s promise to punish dishonest people. But nothing had really changed. Many were still doing wicked and dishonest things, and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem was not complete. Why had the Jews quickly abandoned the work Jehovah had given them? Had they come back to Jerusalem simply to make their own lives better?

² Zechariah knew that the Jews who returned to Jerusalem were worshippers of Jehovah. They were the ones “whose spirit the true God had stirred” to leave their homes and businesses in Babylon. (Ezra 1:2, 3, 5) They left a place they knew well to move to a land that most of them had never seen. Rebuilding Jehovah’s temple was so important to those Jews that they were willing to make the dangerous journey of some 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) over rough land.

3, 4. What challenges did the returning Jews have?

³ Imagine the long trip from Babylon to Jerusalem. The people had many hours to think about and talk about their future home. Older ones had told them how beautiful Jerusalem and the temple once were. (Ezra 3:12) If you were traveling with them, how would you have felt when you first saw Jerusalem? Would you have been sad to see the ruined buildings covered with weeds and the broken-down city walls with large holes where gates and towers once stood? You might have compared those broken-down walls with the huge strong walls of Babylon. But the Jews were not discouraged. Why not? Because during their long journey, Jehovah had helped and protected them. As soon as they arrived in Jerusalem, they built an altar where the temple had been and began to offer sacrifices to Jehovah each day. (Ezra 3:1, 2) They were full of zeal and ready to work. It seemed that nothing could discourage them.

⁴ Along with rebuilding the temple, the Jews had to rebuild their cities and houses. They needed to plant fields so that they could provide food for their families. (Ezra 2:70) The amount of work they had to do seemed huge. Soon, their enemies came and tried to stop them. This opposition went on for 15 years, and the Jews slowly became discouraged. (Ezra 4:1-4) Another challenge came in the year 522, when the Persian king ordered that all building in Jerusalem be stopped. It seemed that the city would never be rebuilt.​—Ezra 4:21-24.

5. How did Jehovah help his people?

⁵ Jehovah knew that his people needed strength and courage. He gave Zechariah a final vision to assure the people that He loved them and appreciated their efforts to serve him. He promised to protect them if they returned to the work he had given them. About rebuilding the temple, Jehovah said: “It will occur​—if you do not fail to listen to the voice of Jehovah your God.”​—Zechariah 6:15.

AN ARMY OF ANGELIC FORCES

6. (a) How did Zechariah’s eighth vision begin? (See opening picture.) (b) Why were the horses of different colors?

⁶ The eighth and last vision of Zechariah may be the most faith-strengthening of them all. (Read Zechariah 6:1-3.) Try to imagine what Zechariah saw. “From between two mountains” made of copper came horses pulling four chariots. The horses were of different colors, which made it easy to tell the riders apart. Zechariah asked: “What are these?” (Zechariah 6:4) We also want to know, because the vision affects us.

7, 8. (a) What do the two mountains represent? (b) Why are the mountains made of copper?

⁷ In the Bible, mountains can represent kingdoms, or governments. The mountains that Zechariah saw are similar to two mountains we read about in Daniel’s prophecy. One of those mountains represents Jehovah’s universal and eternal rulership, and the other represents the Messianic Kingdom with Jesus as its King. (Daniel 2:35, 45) Since the autumn of 1914, when Jesus became King, both of these mountains have been in existence and have had a special role in fulfilling God’s purpose for the earth.

⁸ Why are the mountains made of copper? Copper is a very valuable and shiny metal. In fact, Jehovah told the Israelites to use copper when they built the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem. (Exodus 27:1-3; 1 Kings 7:13-16) The fact that these mountains are made of copper emphasizes the excellent quality of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty and of the Messianic Kingdom, which will make humans feel safe and bring them many blessings.

9. Who are the riders of the chariots, and what is their assignment?

⁹ What do the chariots and their riders represent? The riders are angels, probably different groups of angels. (Read Zechariah 6:5-8.) They go out from “before the Lord of the whole earth” with a special assignment. The angels are sent to specific places to protect God’s people, particularly from Babylon, “the land of the north.” With this vision, Jehovah let his people know that they would never again be slaves to Babylon. Imagine how this comforted the builders of the temple in Zechariah’s day! They knew that their enemies could not stop them.

10. How can Zechariah’s prophecy about the chariots and their riders help us today?

¹⁰ Today, Jehovah still uses his angels to protect and strengthen his people. (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 1:7, 14) Since 1919, when Jehovah’s people were released from symbolic captivity to Babylon the Great, their enemies have tried very hard to keep true worship from growing and expanding. (Revelation 18:4) But they have not been able to do so. Because angels are protecting Jehovah’s organization, we do not have to be afraid that Jehovah’s people will ever become captive to false religion again. (Psalm 34:7) Instead, we will continue to be happy and busy as we worship Jehovah. Zechariah’s prophecy helps us to understand that we are safe and protected by the two mountains.

11. Why do we not need to be afraid of the coming attack on God’s people?

¹¹ Very soon the political forces of Satan’s world will come together to try to destroy God’s people. (Ezekiel 38:2, 10-12; Daniel 11:40, 44, 45; Revelation 19:19) In Ezekiel’s prophecy, we see these forces covering the earth like clouds. They are riding horses and coming in a rage to attack God’s people. (Ezekiel 38:15, 16)a (See footnote.) Should we be afraid of them? No! We have Jehovah’s army on our side. During the great tribulation, Jehovah’s angels will protect his people and will destroy any who oppose Jehovah’s rulership. (2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8) What a day that will be! But who will take the lead in Jehovah’s heavenly army?

JEHOVAH CROWNS HIS KING AND PRIEST

12, 13. (a) What did Jehovah tell Zechariah to do next? (b) How do we know that the man named Sprout represents Jesus Christ?

¹² Zechariah was the only one who saw those eight visions. But next he did something that others would see and that would encourage those who were rebuilding God’s temple. (Read Zechariah 6:9-12.) Three men, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, arrived from Babylon. Jehovah told Zechariah to collect silver and gold from these men and use those materials to make “a grand crown.” (Zechariah 6:11, footnote) Was this crown for Governor Zerubbabel, who was from the tribe of Judah and was a descendant of David? No. Jehovah told Zechariah to place the crown on the head of High Priest Joshua. This must have surprised any who were watching.

¹³ Did the crowning make High Priest Joshua a king? No. Joshua was not a descendant of David, so he did not qualify to be king. His crowning was a picture of what would happen to a future and eternal king and priest, called Sprout. The Bible explains that Sprout is Jesus Christ.​—Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 2:23, footnote.

14. As King and High Priest, what work does Jesus do?

¹⁴ Jesus is both King and High Priest. He leads Jehovah’s army of angels and works hard to make God’s people feel secure in this violent world. (Jeremiah 23:5, 6) Very soon, Christ will conquer the nations as he supports God’s rulership and defends Jehovah’s people. (Revelation 17:12-14; 19:11, 14, 15) But before that day, Jesus, or Sprout, has a great work to do.

HE WILL BUILD THE TEMPLE

15, 16. (a) How have God’s people been restored and refined today, and by whom? (b) What will earth be like at the end of Christ’s Thousand Year Reign?

¹⁵ As well as being King and High Priest, Jesus was assigned to “build the temple of Jehovah.” (Read Zechariah 6:13.) In 1919, he did this building work by setting God’s people free from the influence of false religion, Babylon the Great. Jesus restored the congregation and appointed a “faithful and discreet slave.” This group of anointed brothers directs the important work that is being done here in the earthly part of the great spiritual temple. (Matthew 24:45) Jesus has also been refining God’s people, helping them to worship in a clean way.​—Malachi 3:1-3.

¹⁶ Jesus and his 144,000 fellow kings and priests will rule for a thousand years. During that time, they will help faithful humans to become perfect. When these kings and priests have completed this work, only true worshippers of Jehovah will be left on earth. Finally, true worship will be fully restored!

SHARE IN THE BUILDING WORK

17. What reassurance did Jehovah next give the Jews, and how did his message affect them?

¹⁷ How did Zechariah’s message affect the Jews at that time? Jehovah had promised to help and protect them so that they could complete the temple. This promise gave them hope. But they may still have wondered how so few people could do so much work. So Zechariah told them something that would take away their fear and doubt. Along with people such as Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah who had come to help them, Jehovah said that many others would also “come and take part in building the temple of Jehovah.” (Read Zechariah 6:15.) The Jews were sure that Jehovah was supporting their work. They courageously went back to rebuilding the temple, even though the Persian king had put an official ban on the work. This ban was like a big mountain in their way, but soon Jehovah removed it. Finally, the temple was completed in the year 515 before Christ. (Ezra 6:22; Zechariah 4:6, 7) However, those words of Jehovah also describe something far greater that is happening today.

18. How is Zechariah 6:15 being fulfilled today?

¹⁸ Today, millions of people worship Jehovah. They are happy to give him their “valuable things,” such as their time, energy, and material resources. In this way, they support Jehovah’s great spiritual temple. (Proverbs 3:9) And we can be sure that Jehovah values our loyal support. Remember that Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah brought silver and gold and that Zechariah made it into a crown. The crown was “a memorial,” or “reminder,” of their contribution to true worship. (Zechariah 6:14; footnote) Jehovah will never forget the work we do and the love we show for him.​—Hebrews 6:10.

19. How should Zechariah’s visions affect us?

¹⁹ In these last days, Jehovah’s people have been able to do a great work. This has been possible because of Jehovah’s blessing and Christ’s leadership. We are happy to be part of a stable, secure, and everlasting organization, and we know that Jehovah’s purpose for pure worship will come true. So appreciate your place among Jehovah’s people, and “listen to the voice of Jehovah your God.” Then you can be protected by our King and High Priest and by the angels. Do all you can to support true worship. Jehovah will keep you safe during the rest of this system of things​—and forever!

I WAS born in 1923 in Hemsworth, a town in Yorkshire, England. I had one older brother, Bob. When I was nine years old, our father got some books that explained how false religion has tricked people. Father was very impressed with what he read. He did not like that religious leaders taught one thing but did another. A few years later, Bob Atkinson came to our house and played a record of one of Brother Rutherford’s talks. We realized that this talk was from the same group that published the books Father had read. My parents invited Brother Atkinson to have dinner with us every night and answer our many Bible questions. He invited us to attend meetings at a brother’s home a few miles away. We started attending meetings regularly, and a small congregation was formed in Hemsworth. Soon we had zone servants (now known as circuit overseers) staying with us and pioneers from nearby congregations having meals with us. Those brothers and sisters were a very good influence on me.

At that time our family had started a business. But Father said to my brother, “If you want to go pioneering, we’ll get rid of this.” Bob agreed, and he left home to pioneer when he was 21 years old. Two years later, when I was 16, I too became a pioneer. On weekends I worked with others, but on most weekdays I worked alone. I used a phonograph and a testimony card, that is, a small card with a short and simple Bible message on it. Jehovah blessed me with a Bible student who made wonderful progress. Many in that student’s family eventually came into the truth. The following year, I was appointed as a special pioneer, along with Mary Henshall. We were sent to unassigned territory in the county of Cheshire.

During World War II, women had to do work that would support the war. Other religious ministers were exempt from going to war, so we thought that as special pioneers, we would also be exempt. But the courts did not agree, and I was sentenced to 31 days in prison. The following year, when I turned 19, I had to go to court two more times because my conscience still did not allow me to support the war. However, both times the authorities let me go. During this entire experience, I knew that holy spirit was helping me and that Jehovah was making me firm and strong.​—Isaiah 41:10, 13.

A NEW PARTNER

Arthur Matthews and I met in 1946. Arthur had just served a three-month prison sentence because he refused to go to war. As soon as he was released from prison, he joined his brother Dennis, a special pioneer, in Hemsworth. Their father had taught them about Jehovah from the time they were very young, and they got baptized when they were teenagers. Soon after they started pioneering together, Dennis was assigned to Ireland. So Arthur was left without a partner. My parents were impressed by the way this hardworking pioneer behaved. So they invited him to stay with them. When I visited, Arthur and I would offer to wash the dishes after meals. Eventually we began writing to each other. During 1948, Arthur had to go to prison for another three months. We married in January 1949, and our goal was to stay in full-time service as long as possible. We were very careful about how we spent our money, and we used vacation time to earn some money picking fruit. With Jehovah’s blessing, we were able to continue pioneering.

A little over a year later, we were assigned to Northern Ireland, first to Armagh and then to Newry, both mostly Catholic towns. There was strong religious prejudice in the area, so we had to be very careful and use good judgment when we preached to people. We had our meetings in a brother and sister’s home that was 16 kilometers (10 miles) away from where we lived. About eight attended the meetings. Sometimes we would stay overnight. We would sleep on the floor and then enjoy a big breakfast the next day. It is a great joy to know that there are now many Witnesses in that area.

“WE’LL DO THAT!”

My brother and his wife, Lottie, were already serving as special pioneers in Northern Ireland, and in 1952 the four of us attended a district convention in Belfast. A brother was kind enough to host us, so the four of us stayed at his home together with Pryce Hughes, then the branch servant in Britain. One night we were discussing a new booklet, God’s Way Is Love, which was produced especially for the people in Ireland. Brother Hughes explained that it was difficult to preach to Catholic people in the Irish Republic. Brothers were being forced to leave the places where they were staying, and priests were urging people to attack the brothers. Pryce said, “We need couples with cars to engage in a special campaign to distribute the booklet throughout the country.”a (See footnote.) That is when we said, “We’ll do that!”

One place where pioneers could always stay in Dublin was at the home of Ma Rutland, a faithful sister who had served Jehovah for many years. We too went to stay there for a while, and we sold some of our belongings. Then, the four of us got on Bob’s motorcycle and sidecar and went to find a car. We found a used one that was in good condition, and we asked the seller to deliver it to us because none of us knew how to drive. Arthur spent that entire evening sitting on the bed, pretending he was shifting the gears of a car. The next morning while he was trying to drive the car out of the garage, a missionary named Mildred Willett (who later married John Barr) came by. She knew how to drive! She helped us practice driving, and after that we were ready to go.

Next, we needed to find a place to live. The brothers had told us to avoid living in a trailer because opposers could set it on fire. So we searched for a home but could not find one. That night the four of us slept in the car. The next day all we could find was a little homemade trailer with two small bunk beds. That became our home. Amazingly, we had no problem parking the trailer on the property of friendly farmers. We would preach in a territory that was 16 to 24 kilometers (10 to 15 miles) away from the trailer. After moving on to a new area, we would then return to preach to the people where the trailer had been parked.

We visited all the homes in the southeast of the Irish Republic without much opposition. We placed over 20,000 booklets, and we sent the names of all those who were interested to the Britain branch office. What a blessing it is to have hundreds of Witnesses in that area of Ireland now!

BACK TO ENGLAND, THEN ON TO SCOTLAND

Some years later, we were reassigned to south London. After a few weeks, brothers from the Britain branch office called Arthur and asked him to begin circuit work the next day! We were trained for a week, and then we traveled to our circuit in Scotland, so Arthur did not have much time to prepare his talks. But he was always willing to do any assignment in God’s service, no matter how difficult it was. His example greatly encouraged me. We really enjoyed our assignment in the circuit work. After having been in unassigned territory for some years, it was a wonderful blessing to be among so many brothers and sisters.

When Arthur was invited to attend Gilead School in 1962, we had a big decision to make. The course would last ten months, but I could not go with him because I was not invited. We decided that it was right for Arthur to accept this invitation. Because I would not have a pioneer partner, the branch sent me back to Hemsworth as a special pioneer. When Arthur returned a year later, we were assigned to the district work. Our territory included Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland.

A NEW ASSIGNMENT IN IRELAND

In 1964, Arthur was assigned to be the branch servant in the Irish Republic. At first, I was nervous about going to Bethel because I really enjoyed the traveling work. Looking back now, I am grateful for the privilege of serving at Bethel. I believe that if you accept an assignment even when you don’t really feel like doing it, Jehovah will always bless you. In Bethel, I did office work, packed literature, cooked, and cleaned. For some time, we were also in the district work and were able to meet brothers throughout the country. This, along with seeing our Bible students make progress in the truth, created a strong bond with our brothers and sisters in Ireland. What a blessing!

AN IMPORTANT EVENT FOR JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES IN IRELAND

The first international convention in Ireland was held in Dublin in 1965.b (See footnote.) Even though there was intense opposition, the convention was a great success. A total of 3,948 attended, and 65 got baptized. The 3,500 international delegates stayed at the homes of people in Dublin. Every one of these householders received a letter of appreciation. And the householders praised the good conduct of the brothers as well. It was truly a positive change for Ireland.

In 1966 both north and south Ireland were united under the Dublin branch office. This unity was very different from what was happening on the island in general, where people were divided because of politics and religion. We were thrilled to see so many Catholics coming into the truth and serving Jehovah together with their brothers who were once Protestants.

A COMPLETE CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENT

In 2011 our lives changed completely when the Britain and Ireland branches were merged and we were assigned to London Bethel. At that time, I was beginning to worry about Arthur’s health. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Sadly, on May 20, 2015, my companion of 66 years died.

In the last few years, I have felt heartbreak, depression, and grief. In the past, Arthur had always been there for me. How I miss him! But when you go through these kinds of situations, you draw closer to Jehovah. It makes me happy to learn how much others loved Arthur. I have received letters from brothers and sisters in Ireland, Britain, and even the United States. These letters, along with encouragement I received from Arthur’s brother Dennis, his wife, Mavis, and my nieces Ruth and Judy, have helped me more than I could ever describe.

A scripture that has encouraged me very much is Isaiah 30:18. It says: “Jehovah is waiting patiently to show you favor, and he will rise up to show you mercy. For Jehovah is a God of justice. Happy are all those keeping in expectation of him.” It truly comforts me to know that Jehovah is waiting patiently to solve all our problems and to give us exciting assignments in his new world.

When I think about the past, I can see how Jehovah has guided and blessed the preaching work in Ireland! I feel honored to be one of many who helped in this work. It is very true that doing what Jehovah asks of us always brings blessings.

IN A small town in Gujarat, India, John’s father was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the late 1950’s. But John, his five brothers and sisters, and their mother were Roman Catholics and were very religious. For this reason, they were opposed to the father’s faith.

One day, John’s father asked him to deliver an envelope to a brother in the congregation. But that morning, John cut his finger badly while opening a large tin barrel. Still, he wanted to obey his father, so he tied a rag around his bleeding finger and went out to deliver the envelope.

When John arrived at the address, he gave the envelope to the brother’s wife. She was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She noticed John’s injured finger and offered to help. She got out her first-aid kit, cleaned the wound, and put a bandage on the finger. Then she made John a cup of hot tea. The entire time she was talking to him in a friendly way about the Bible.

Because of her kindness, John’s feelings toward the Witnesses started to change. So he asked her two questions about beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses that differ from those of the Catholic Church. He asked if Jesus is God and if Christians should pray to Mary. The sister had learned Gujarati and was able to answer John in his own language. She showed him the answers from the Bible and gave him the booklet “This Good News of the Kingdom.”

Later, when John read the booklet, he knew that what he was reading was the truth. He went to his priest and asked him the same two questions. The priest got very angry and threw a Bible at him, shouting: “You’ve become Satan! Show me where the Bible says that Jesus is not God. Show me where it says that you should not worship Mary. Show me!” John was shocked that the priest would act this way. He told the priest that he would never go into a Catholic church again. And he never did!

John started to study with the Witnesses, accepted the truth, and began serving Jehovah. In time, several other family members did the same. Some 60 years later, the scar on John’s finger still reminds him of the act of Christian kindness that moved him to spend a lifetime serving Jehovah.​—2 Corinthians 6:4, 6.

Why did Jesus condemn the making of oaths?

THE Mosaic Law allowed people to take certain oaths by saying something like, “I swear to you by God,” or “I swear it by the name of Jehovah.” However, in Jesus’ day, oaths had become so common that the Jews would swear to almost anything they said. They did this to make what they said more believable, but Jesus condemned this useless practice twice. He taught: “Just let your word ‘Yes’ mean yes, your ‘No,’ no.”​—Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22.

According to the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, the Talmud helps us to see how common it was for the Jews to make oaths, or swear that their words were true. This is because the Talmud explains in great detail which oaths had to be kept and which oaths could be broken.

Jesus was not the only one to condemn this wrong practice. For example, Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote about a Jewish sect that avoided swearing. Members of that sect believed that making oaths was worse than lying. They felt that if a person had to make an oath in order for others to believe him, then that person must be a liar. The Jewish apocryphal writing Wisdom of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus, (23:11) similarly says: “A man given to swearing is lawless to the core.” Jesus condemned making oaths about unimportant matters. If we always tell the truth, we should not have to swear to make what we say more believable.