³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:^(A) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;^(B)

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.^(A)

Judgment and Hope

66 This is what the Lord says:

²¹ If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to pay it,^(A) for the Lord your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.^{(B) 22} But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty.^{(C) 23} Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the Lord your God with your own mouth.

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides!^(A) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’^{(B) 17} You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?^{(C) 18} You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?^{(D) 20} Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells^(E) in it. ²² And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.^(F)

² All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,^[a] the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.