Matthew 5:34

Monday, 9 December 2024

But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; Matthew 5:34

“And I, I say to you, not swear atall, either in the heaven, for it is God’s throne” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that in the law it says that one should not perjure and that oaths were to be performed. However, Jesus now says, “And I, I say to you, not swear atall.”

Here is the first use of the word holós. It signifies wholly or altogether. When preceded by a negative, it signifies “atall” which, yes, is an English word that matches the Greek exactingly. The other three uses of the word will be by Paul in 1 Corinthians.

Rather than making vows, Jesus says to refrain from making them. However, someone might consider this as contradictory. In Deuteronomy 6:13, it says, “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.”

Someone could say that Jesus is contradicting what Moses taught. It could also be argued that He was rewriting the law rather than fulfilling it. But this is not so. Jesus continues His words with, “either in the heaven, for it is God’s throne.”

This is the first of five things Jesus says you are not to swear by. In this case, the word en, in, is used to indicate instrumentality as in “by heaven.” We use it this way at times, such as, “I swear in my dad’s name.”

Each of those five things is a part of creation. At times, an oath, adjuration, or vow is required. When it is, then it is to be made solely in the name of the Lord. This is evidenced by Jesus responding to such an adjuration in Matthew 26 –

“And the high priest arose and said to Him, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ 63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’
64 Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Matthew 26:62-64

Further, Paul makes such oaths in his epistles quite a few times, such as in Romans 1:8 where he calls God as his witness. Rather, anything less than an oath in His name would be idolatry, elevating something created to a level of prominence that belongs to God alone.

Jesus will continue with His list of things not to swear by in the coming verses.

Life application: There are many in Christian circles who refuse to make a vow, even in the name of the Lord, based on this verse. This is based on a faulty interpretation of what Jesus is saying.

If a matter requires an oath, such as in a courtroom, the oath is only to be made in the name of the true God. As He finishes this thought, Jesus will tell what the normally expected type of guarantee is to be. It is a precept that is repeated several more times in the New Testament, including by Paul.

Be sure to keep things in context and to fully consider the entire matter that is being addressed when coming to decisions about one’s doctrine and life conduct.

Lord God, help our words to be always truthful so that people can rely on them without ever questioning our sincerity and without calling our relationship with You into question. May all those we interact with consider us as faithful people whose words can always be trusted. Amen.