DON'T SWEAR

Passage: Matthew 5:33-37

Key verse: 37

NIV

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,(A) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’(B) 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:(C) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;(D) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.(E) 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;(F) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[a](G)

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Oaths

33 “Again (A)you have heard that it was said to those of old, (B)‘You shall not swear falsely, but (C)shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, (D)Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for (E)it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is (F)the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; (G)anything more than this comes from evil.[a]

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 5:37 Or the evil one
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Keep your vow to the Lord (33)

To make a vow or oath to God is a serious matter, so one should not make such a vow in pride or passion. Once Jephthah made a foolish vow (Jdg 11); in order to keep it, he had to sacrifice his daughter. He should not have made such a vow and perhaps he should not have kept it. Once King Saul made a vow which he did not keep. It cost him greatly (1Sa 14:24-46). Some vows should be made. Marriage vows should be made before God and kept with God's help. God swore by himself to keep his covenant with Abraham (Ge 22). God keeps the new covenant made with every believer, for it is sealed in Jesus' blood.

2. Don't swear at all (34-37)

When Jesus says, 'Don't swear at all,' he is saying, 'Don't swear to affirm the truthfulness of what you are saying.' God's people should always tell the truth, so we have no need to swear. We have no power to keep rash vows. Jesus reminds us that we cannot make even one hair black or white. When we say 'Yes' we should mean it; when we say 'No' we should mean it.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be truthful and sincere.

One Word: Tell the truth