Jesus Forbids Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that (A)it was said to those of [a]old, (B)‘You shall not swear falsely, but (C)shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (D)do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is (E)God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of (F)the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 (G)But let [b]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:33 ancient times
  2. Matthew 5:37 Lit. your word be yes yes

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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil

BOOK FIVE

Psalms 107–150

Thanksgiving to the Lord for His Great Works of Deliverance

107 Oh, (A)give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His [a]mercy endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 107:1 Heb. same as goodness, vv. 8, 15, 21, 31, and lovingkindness, v. 43

BOOK V

Psalms 107–150

Psalm 107

Give thanks to the Lord,(A) for he is good;(B)
    his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed(C) of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

Read full chapter

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, (A)“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, (B)and intend to bring this Man’s (C)blood on us!”

29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: (D)“We ought to obey God rather than men.

Read full chapter

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin(A) to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,”(B) he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”(C)

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!(D)

Read full chapter

(A)One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

Read full chapter

One person considers one day more sacred than another;(A) another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.

Read full chapter

22 [a]Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. (A)Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for (B)whatever is not from faith is [b]sin.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:22 NU The faith which you have—have
  2. Romans 14:23 M puts Rom. 16:25–27 here.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn(A) himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts(B) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 14:23 Some manuscripts place 16:25-27 here; others after 15:33.