Mat 5:33-37 | PNT | STEP | Thou shalt not forswear thyself . See . The Jews held that this only prohibited swearing falsely and by the name of God.

Matthew 5:33-37

Thou shalt not forswear thyself. See Le 19:12 Nu 25:2. The Jews held that this only prohibited swearing falsely and by the name of God. Swear not at all. Christ does not forbid judicial oaths. Note, (1) God sometimes swears by himself (Ge 22:16,17); (2) Jesus made oath before the Sanhedrin (Mt 26:63); (3) Paul made oath to the Corinthians (2Co 1:23). He does forbid all profanity and idle oaths, such as were common among the Jews, and still so defile the mouths of men.

Neither by heaven. The Jews held that it was impious to swear by the name of God, but that one could swear "by heaven", "by the earth", "by Jerusalem". One was God's throne, the second his footstool, Jerusalem the city of the Messiah King, all too holy for profanation. By thy head. Senseless, since the oath could have no meaning. Dr. Thompson ("The Land and the Book") says the Orientals are still terribly profane, swearing continually by the head, the beard, the heart, the temple, the church. Let your communication be, Yea, yea. All foolish appeals are forbidden. A simple statement is all Christ permits.

Whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Indeed, it makes one doubt the truth of him who was to confirm every assertion by oath.