Matthew 5:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

However, as a human being, you are capable of error in many ways, which can lead to misrepresenting the truth. Sometimes, a person may inadvertently become an oath-breaker, mistakenly believing that what they affirm is true, despite the possibility of their beliefs being untruths. The sinfulness of swearing is not as severe in instances where one inadvertently swears to a mistaken belief as it is in cases where one knowingly swears to a falsehood. Therefore, one who follows the Savior’s command to refrain from swearing completely finds themselves in a far better and safer position regarding this sin.

Furthermore, if someone pressures you to take an oath, thinking it will satisfy them when you have sworn that you did not commit the act they suspect you of, you are less culpable than the one who urged you to do so. As the Lord stated, “Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’” (Matt. 5:37), for anything beyond that arises from ill intent. In discussing oaths, He intended to illustrate that the act of swearing is rooted in this ill will. If you are compelled by another to swear, it comes from their malice, not your own. This illustrates a flaw inherent to humanity: our inability to see one another’s hearts. If we could perceive the true intentions within, who would require an oath? Who would coerce us to swear if the thoughts of our neighbor were visible? Take to heart what I convey to you: the person who forces another to swear, aware that it will lead to falsehood, is worse than a murderer. While a murderer brings an end to physical life, this person harms the soul—both of the one forced to swear and their own. You grasp the truth of your affirmation and recognize the falsehoods in what another claims. How then can you pressure someone to take an oath? In doing so, they may sin through a false pledge; they may suffer the consequence of destruction—what benefit is that to you? In fact, you harm yourself as you seek your own satisfaction at the expense of your brother’s ruin. Be cautious of false oaths and be wary of ill-considered pledges. The most effective way to avoid both pitfalls is to eliminate the practice of swearing from your life altogether.

Do you speak thoughtlessly, allowing your words to ascend to heaven with oaths and curses? Do you not tremble at the thought that the fiery judgment foretold by the prophet may reside in your household (Zech. 5:4), ultimately leading to your destruction in the spiritual realms, because you dare to speak against the Almighty, before whom the hosts of heaven—angels, archangels, cherubim, and seraphim—stand in awe, singing of His fearful, glorious, and honorable name? As it is said: In matters where angels possess greater strength and authority, they do not bring accusations against them. However, those who, like cattle, are inherently perishable and corruptible, do not recognize such blasphemies and will perish in their own decline, receiving the consequences of their unrighteousness (2 Pet. 2:10-13). Do you not recognize your own nature, O man? Or do you believe this behavior will earn you respect? No, I say to you; it will lead only to your own ruin and destruction; for you will also corrupt the souls of others, becoming an ally of the adversary. The apostle writes, Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16); yet instead, you teach the opposite: blasphemies and oaths, leading both yourself and those who follow your folly to become children of perdition, having filled with bitterness the mouths God formed to glorify Him. Finally, desist, man; lest the very words you trivialize become a consuming fire in your mouth, devastating your tongue. If a person feels shame after quarreling with another when peace is restored, how dare you—who stand at peace today and will tomorrow face His judgment—speak such words, not fearing that fire may descend from heaven and consume you for speaking against the Almighty? Do you not fear that the earth might open up and swallow you whole? Be not misled, man; for it is perilous to fall into the hands of our Creator. Consider the warning: ‘They will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead’ (1 Pet. 4:4-5). How long will we provoke Him, who has bestowed upon us countless blessings, He who fashioned man from the dust and breathed into him the breath of life, who has placed all creation beneath our feet; He who guards those who slumber, watches over the waking, nourishes the hungry, clothes the naked, encourages the faint-hearted, provides wisdom and compassion, and even surrendered His only-begotten Son for the life of all, while we return His goodness with thorns and thistles that are only fit for burning?

The ancient law reminds us, "You shall not swear falsely," yet it also emphasizes that we must honor our promises to the Lord. This serves as a solemn reminder to the oath-taker, instilling a healthy fear of breaking their word, knowing that the all-knowing God acknowledges their commitment.

The admonition "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain" is reiterated in Exodus (Exodus 20:7), along with, "But if you make a vow to the Lord your God, you must not hesitate to pay it; for the Lord your God will demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin" (Deuteronomy 23:21, 23). Here again, differing expressions reinforce the same truth. They swore by the Lord’s name (Deuteronomy 10:20; Deuteronomy 6:13; Jeremiah 12:16), which prohibits swearing by false gods (see Jeremiah 5:7). Not swearing is equivalent to not imposing an oath on others. How can you urge your brother to undertake actions you shun, if you truly embody brotherly love and greed is absent from your heart? The ancient command warns, "You shall not swear falsely," while it also asserts the requirement to fulfill one’s vows before the Lord. This instruction serves to instill fear in those who swear, for they recognize that God, who sees all, acknowledges their oaths.

I invoke His sacred name, beseeching Him to assist me in keeping my commitment, and to hold me accountable if I falter. Trust in God, the righteous Judge, that I will remain true to my word!’ Thus, the act of swearing an oath in God’s name emerged. As the Apostle Paul declared, ‘Men swear by the greater, and an oath serves as a definitive conclusion to all disputes’ (Hebrews 6:16). This practice was evident among the holy patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—who, like King David and other upright figures of the Old Testament, swore oaths. If such acts were sinful, the saints would never have taken oaths. A solemn oath invoking God’s name is essentially akin to prayer; it is the earnest plea of a flawed soul to the Lord for strength to fulfill a noble promise, ultimately for the glory of His holy name, seeking His assistance in overcoming challenges that often hinder good endeavors. This is the lament of the sinner who addresses God regarding their own shortcomings: ‘Look, O Lord, at the state into which my sins have led me: my neighbor does not believe me... Be my heavenly mediator and witness to my promise!’ The Lord not only allowed this but Himself sanctified the oath through His divine example, declaring to Abraham, ‘I swear by Myself’ (Genesis 22:16), and regarding another promise, He stated, ‘I swore to David My servant’ (Psalm 88:4). Therefore, the Apostle Paul noted, ‘Thus God, wishing to demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the unchanging nature of His purpose, confirmed it with an oath’ (Hebrews 6:17). Consequently, the name of God embodies incomprehensible and all-powerful authority that rewards the faithful and holds the unfaithful accountable for their oaths. The sanctity of swearing by God’s name is upheld. However, what was revered in the Old Testament can sometimes be misused in the New Testament. Christ the Redeemer affirmed that He came not to nullify but to fulfill the holy commandments of the Old Testament, clarifying their spiritual essence, which had been clouded by Jewish traditions. The Old Testament commandment states: ‘You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him only, to Him you shall cling, and by His name, you shall swear’ (Deut. 6:13; Lev. 19:12). A person who swears carelessly or violates a duly taken oath demonstrates a lack of faith in God; such actions blaspheme and bring dishonor to His name. Conversely, one who swears sincerely in God’s name and honors their oath brings glory to God and acknowledges His omniscience, omnipotence, and justice. Such individuals deserve praise as they silence those who speak wickedness (Psalm 62:12). An oath instills humility before God and promotes a healthy fear of Him. For many, the mere presence of an oath serves as a deterrent against sin, and if Christ had entirely abolished oaths, moral chaos would likely ensue. Instead, Christ, through His New Covenant, guides humanity toward moral perfection. Hence, the prophet Isaiah declared that in the kingdom of Christ, those bearing a new identity (Christians) will swear by the Lord of hosts, the God of truth (Isa. 19:18; Isa. 65:16). Indeed, the Apostle Paul attests that the early Christians invoked God’s name in their oaths, and he himself frequently called upon God as a witness to his statements. Additionally, the Evangelist John revealed in the Revelation an angel who raised his hand toward heaven and swore by the eternal One (Rev. 10:5-6). Furthermore, Christ the Redeemer did not shy away from taking an oath during His trial when the high priest Caiaphas summoned Him, stating, ‘I adjure You by the Living God; tell us, are You the Christ, the Son of God?’ to which He affirmed in accordance with Jewish Law: ‘You have said it,’ signifying a truthful acknowledgment. The Jews misunderstood the command against false oaths, treating the sacred name of God (Jehovah) with such reverence that they feared invoking it in ordinary discussions. Still, deception led them to create substitute oaths that cleverly avoided mentioning God’s name, believing they were adhering to divine commandments. The absurdity of such empty vows is illustrated with Herod, who irreverently promised half his kingdom for a dancer’s performance. However, all creation belongs to God, meaning any oath made upon creation ultimately reflects back to the Creator. That’s why Christ did not explicitly mandate, ‘In His name, you shall swear,’ but instead highlighted the commandment against false swearing. ‘Have you heard,’ He questioned, ‘that it has been said to the ancients, You shall not commit the sin of swearing? Swear only to uphold the truth, but if you take an oath, fulfill your obligations before the Lord.’ Recognizing the Pharisees' erroneous interpretations of this command, He outright condemned the oaths they contrived.

In the Mosaic Law, while there was no explicit directive concerning the fulfillment of oaths, there was a mandate to honor vows: “If thou shalt make a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt fulfil it at once: for the Lord thy God shall exact it from thee, and sin shall be upon thee.” However, the Jewish people openly flouted this principle; they invoked God's Name in their lies, neglected their promises to Him, and the Pharisees created false assurances for their consciences. They engaged in deceitful swearing, trivialized the breaking of oaths, and misled the people to believe that swearing by anything other than God's Name was permissible, thereby asserting that oaths made by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or oneself were without sin, provided one cleverly avoided the law.

In contrast, Christ called for a standard of integrity that surpassed that of the Pharisees. He taught that those who are humble, mournful for their sins and the sins of others, gentle, honest, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers deserved such trust that they should never need to call upon God as a witness; their words should be inherently reliable, more so than the oaths of the unfaithful. “Be ye therefore such,” He proclaimed, “and therefore swear not at all... but let your word be, yea, yea; and nay, nay.” He urged the believers to reject teachers who, indulging in spiritual weakness, permitted oaths that did not invoke God’s Name. The heavens, the earth, Jerusalem, and even your own head belong to the Lord; hence, swearing by anything is effectively swearing by God Himself. If compelled to swear due to disbelief in your testimony conveyed through simple affirmation or negation, recognize that this lack of trust springs from your own dishonesty and sinful tendencies, indicating a separation from a faithful relationship with God. Therefore, any insistence on confirmation beyond a straightforward yes or no stems from the influence of evil. In saying, "swear not at all," Christ did not abolish but rather reaffirmed the commandment given at Sinai: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”

This practice allowed them to swear falsely without directly employing God’s name. The divine Lawgiver of the New Testament speaks against such behavior, stating, “I say to you not to swear by any oath, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by Jerusalem..." The Greek term for "any" should be interpreted in context with the subsequent list, rather than in an absolute sense. It is important to distinguish that swearing by God’s name was indeed acknowledged in both the Old and New Testaments (e.g., Romans 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Philippians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 10; Revelation 10:6). Therefore, this proclamation should be understood as a prohibition against swearing in any circumstances by heaven, by earth, or by Jerusalem. Those who misinterpret this verse to reject all forms of oaths are mistaken, as the Greek word σ῞λως is not employed to denote a complete rejection of oaths in general. The term appears three times in the New Testament, including in 1 Corinthians 5:1 where it indicated a conditional state, as well as in Matthew 6:7, which similarly suggests a lack of reliance, and again in Matthew 15:20 regarding the resurrection. In none of these instances does ὅλως imply an absolute prohibition. Thus, it serves as a rhetorical device, allowing the speaker to transition between topics without fully addressing one before establishing another.

In this context, we understand Matthew 5:33 as affirming, “What is forbidden to the ancients, let it be forbidden; yet, do not swear neither by heaven nor by earth,” effectively implying that the Lord’s directives regarding oaths remain intact. While the third commandment prohibits the wrongful invocation or frivolous use of oaths, it does not preclude the possibility of calling upon God as a witness to our vows and seeking His aid in fulfilling them. However, Christ clearly prohibits swearing by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or one’s own head. The reasoning behind this, as articulated by the Apostle, is that “Men swear by the highest things” (Hebrews 6:16); hence, the Jews swore by these significant entities as proximate representations of the divine. The Lord affirms that heaven serves as God's throne, earth as His footstool, and Jerusalem as the city of the great King, revealing the divine presence and sovereignty in these realms. While our own head may seem under our control, it remains utterly subject to God's authority and concern. These references act as sacred symbols of divine majesty and goodness to the faithful.

Nevertheless, the practice of swearing by these entities emerged only in circumstances when individuals feared invoking God’s name directly, leading to the creation of false or insincere oaths. This hypocritical circumvention of the third commandment exemplified the Pharisaic deception; by refraining from using God's name, they resorted to swearing by heaven, earth, and Jerusalem in frivolous or deceitful ways. The Lord condemns such Pharisaic duplicity in His rebukes against the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:20-22); swearing by God’s creation as a manifestation of this deception is hence categorically forbidden (Matthew 23:37). Therefore, the Lord instructs that our speech must be straightforward: “let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’” As a replacement for the aforementioned oaths, He calls for simple affirmations or denials, cautioning that all empty oaths are inspired by the evil one, meaning the devil.

An oath serves as a solemn declaration invoking the name of God to affirm the truth of what has been proclaimed, with the understanding that God holds accountable anyone who falsely certifies untruths, as swearing falsely profanes His name. Over time, the Jewish people, while intentionally avoiding oaths made directly in God's name, developed a practice of swearing by various entities such as heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and the temple (Theophylact, Chrysostom). They often did not regard these oaths as absolutely binding, allowing themselves to swear falsely under these conditions without seemingly breaching the literal text of the Law.