Continuing to describe life in God's kingdom, Jesus declares that his people are called to keep their word. In Jesus' day, the Pharisees encouraged untrustworthy speech through a system of empty oaths. Jesus confronts empty and misleading words by reminding us that every oath and every word we speak calls witness to God, the creator and sustainer of all things. Jesus calls his people to simple and honest speech flowing from the Holy Spirit's faithful work in our hearts. The result is a consistent yes that means yes and a no that means no, imitating and trusting our heavenly Father whose every promise finds its Yes in Jesus Christ.