Tell the Truth

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors,[a] You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord.(A)[b] 34 But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.(B) 36 Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your word ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’[c] Anything more than this is from the evil one.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:33 Lit to the ancients
  2. Matthew 5:33 Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21
  3. Matthew 5:37 Say what you mean and mean what you say

Teaching about Vows

33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’[a] 34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:33 Num 30:2.