By a lie, a man annihilates his dignity as a man.
– Immanuel Kant
You may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.
– Abraham Lincoln
Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.
Psalm 51:6
Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:12-13
Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.
Matthew 5:33-37
Oath
A solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behavior. Synonyms: vow, pledge, sworn statement, promise, or guarantee
Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’
Matthew 23:16
The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells in it. And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne and by him who sits on it.
Matthew 23:21-22
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48
Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7
Integrity matters to Jesus.
Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach. They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them. They do everything to be seen by others: They enlarge their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
Matthew 23:3-5
The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Matthew 23:11-12
Hypocrisy angers Jesus.
A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar. Of all the animals, man is the only one that lies.
– Mark Twain
We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
James 3:2
We are saved because of Jesus’ integrity.
Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26:39
Finally, two who came forward stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
Matthew 26:60-61
