Matthew 5:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Notice why the Lord elevates the objects He mentions; He does so not because of their own inherent worth, but because of their significant connection to God according to our understanding. Given the prevalence of idolatry, Christ sought to ensure that these objects would not be seen as possessing independent value. Instead, He illuminated the divine glory associated with them. He did not say that heaven is good and magnificent, nor did He assert that the earth serves a valuable purpose; rather, He emphasized that heaven is the throne of God and that the earth serves as His footstool. Through this teaching, He guided His listeners to lift their praise to the Lord.

However, as a human being, you can err in many matters, making it possible for you to testify to the truth while inadvertently conveying falsehood. A person can, sometimes unwillingly, break an oath, mistakenly believing that their affirmation is the truth, even when it is, in fact, a deception. Nevertheless, the sin of swearing in this context is less severe compared to the case where someone consciously swears to a falsehood, fully aware of their deceit. Thus, one who, following the command of the Savior, refrains entirely from swearing stands in a much safer position regarding this sin.

If someone urges you to swear, believing it will placate their concerns, and you take an oath to dispel their wrongful suspicions, your sin is far less than that of the one who pressured you into this situation. For the Lord stated, "Let your statement be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond that comes from evil" (Matt. 5:37). In addressing swearing, His intention was to instruct us that swearing often arises from a lack of trust. If you are coerced by another to take an oath, it originates from their distrust, not yours. This reflects a broader human flaw—we fail to perceive the true nature of our hearts. For if we could truly see into our own hearts, who would call upon us to swear? Who could compel us to do so if the intentions of others were also visible? Let these words be inscribed upon your hearts: he who forces another to swear, fully knowing they will testify falsely, is worse than a murderer. A murderer ends a physical life, but such a person destroys a soul—both that of the one who swears and their own. You are confident in the veracity of your claim while recognizing the falsehood of another's assertions; how then can you compel them to swear? In doing so, you lead them to commit a sin with a false oath and to their own ruin. What benefit do you derive from that? No, you bring about your own downfall by seeking to satisfy yourself at the expense of your brother’s integrity. Be vigilant against false oaths and heedless promises. The most effective means to avoid both of these vices is to eschew the habit of swearing altogether.

This provision serves as a concession to their immaturity, similar to how God allowed sacrifices to be made to Him rather than to idols. Thus, while they are permitted to swear by God’s name, it is not meant to be a practice; rather, it is preferred to do so in the name of God rather than in the name of false deities. Ultimately, the truth of the Gospel discourages the act of swearing, as the essence of truth itself replaces the need for oaths.

Through the prophet, God declares, The heavens are my throne, the earth is my footstool (Isaiah 66:1), illustrating His omnipresence, just as He states, I do not fill the heavens and the earth with food (Jeremiah 23:24). David also proclaimed, The hail of the great King (Ps. 47:3).

Consequently, the Lord not only prohibits us from swearing falsely but from swearing altogether, aiming that our speech consistently convey the truth—not just at the moment of making an oath. This serves to remind us, who are created to be truthful in all our expressions, that it is impossible to speak falsely while claiming to swear.

The purpose of swearing is to affirm truthfulness. Hence, God does not differentiate between an oath and our everyday speech; honesty should permeate both, as deceitfulness in any form invites divine judgment. As stated in Scripture: “The mouth that slanders kills the soul” (Prem. 1:11). Therefore, anyone who conveys truth does indeed affirm it, for it is said, “A faithful witness does not lie” (Proverbs 14:5).

These forces—craving and impatience—once they dominate the mental power, begin to misdirect all five senses, treating them as obedient servants for apparent transgressions. Consequently, this leads to sin and downfall. When the mind fails to restrain and govern the senses, the eyes wander out of curiosity, the ears eagerly listen to distractions, the sense of smell seeks indulgence, the mouth becomes insatiable, and the hands stretch out to grasp what is forbidden. This leads to injustice instead of righteousness, folly instead of understanding, impurity instead of purity, and cowardice instead of bravery. These four cardinal virtues—righteousness, understanding, purity, and bravery—are such that when they are robust and healthy within the soul, they effectively guide the three parts of the soul, enabling harmonious governance that keeps the senses from engaging with distractions. Thus, when the mind is tranquil, exercising control over other faculties in accordance with God and their submission, it gains the upper hand in the mental struggle. However, when through carelessness it allows confusion to arise among the other faculties, it becomes susceptible to the snares of the evil one and violates the Divine laws. Such transgressions lead to repentance or suffering in the life to come. Therefore, it is highly beneficial for the mind to remain vigilant; in doing so, it aligns itself with its natural purpose and becomes a true keeper of the Divine commandments.

They are forbidden because they contravene the eternal command of God: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). Such declarations and oaths diminish the reverence for God within us, subtly instilling the ability to deceive, which leads to disrespect for lawful oaths and, at times, their grievous breach. Consequently, the Savior, aiming to eradicate the root of this evil from our hearts, commands us not to swear by the sacred and awe-inspiring name of God, nor by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, a city held most sacred by the Jews as the capital of Israel; nor by our own head, which is a remarkable creation of God; for we cannot create even a single hair nor alter its color. To affirm the truth in all situations, Jesus Christ states that our speech should simply be 'yes' or 'no'; anything beyond this stems from the malevolent adversary of our salvation, the devil, known as the father of lies, who seeks to implant deceitful thoughts within us, gradually leading to the dreadful violation of oaths. The most treacherous tactic of the evil one is to persuade us that breaking Christ's commandments is trivial and to intimidate us with exaggerated threats for disobedience, thus deceiving us into suppressing the fear of God's judgment, which guards our souls. When he successfully removes this divine protector from a believer’s heart, he gains unimpeded access, plundering the treasures of grace, capturing the soul, and using the body as a tool of wickedness. We must diligently safeguard our hearts, which have been consecrated as the dwelling place of God Himself, so that our bodily senses may serve purely in fulfilling His commandments, guided by the wise instruction: “guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Let us consistently pray to our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, asking Him to protect our hearts with the saving reverence of His just judgment, to fill them with His love so that we may love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, and thoughts (Matthew 22:37); and that, by living righteously according to His commandments, we may inherit eternal life. Amen.

Similarly, in his Second Epistle to the Corinthians, he proclaimed: "I call God as my witness, and I stake my life on it, that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth" (2 Cor. 1:23), and in Philippians, he stated: "God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:8). St. Justin Martyr commented in his first Apology, elaborating on Christ’s teachings: “Regarding the prohibition of swearing, He instructs: ‘Do not swear at all! Let your word be simply ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Anything more than that comes from the evil one.’”

Saint Irenaeus, in his treatise against heresies, argued that Christ did not nullify the commandments of the law but rather fulfilled and enriched them, referencing that the Lord said, “You shall not commit adultery,” and then expanded this by stating, “You shall not swear at all, but let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’” Tertullian did not entirely dismiss oaths; however, he rejected swearing by demons, as seen in his Apologia: “We even take an oath to expel demons from individuals; yet we do not worship them, lest we attribute to them the honor due solely to the One God.”

St. Basil the Great, advising tax collectors not to compel taxpayers to take oaths, reiterated in a letter to the provincial governor that “Once individuals learn to disregard an oath, they perceive it as merely a means to deceive” (Creations. Vol. 6). He stressed that “One who is bound by an oath for malicious intent must repent for their impulsiveness, but should not cling to deceit under the guise of reverence. Herod’s oath, which led him to murder the Prophet, does not justify oaths formed for wicked purposes.”

St. Gregory the Theologian reflected on the gravity of oaths, stating: “What is worse than an oath? For I contend there is nothing more grievous... if false oaths were harmless, swearing would be a matter of piety... False oaths represent a denial of God... they are wholly unnecessary for the moral individual.” While he acknowledged that, in dire situations, oaths might be necessary, Gregory cautioned: “Avoid the most dreadful oaths, especially those invoking God’s name. I wish oaths were entirely unnecessary; however, if oaths are demanded, let them be minimal.” He further argued, “A multitude of oaths does not guarantee trustworthiness; rather, they betray a lack of it... Do we not find instances where God Himself swears? The Scriptures affirm this. But what remains more perfect than God? It follows that even He should not need to take oaths.”

St. John Chrysostom, in his "Discourses on Statues," challenged the Antiochians' frequent swearing, lamenting: “How often have we sworn in anger against those who wronged us, only to wish for reconciliation when our anger subsided? It is the devil who binds us with such oaths, ensuring that we remain enmeshed in unresolved conflicts.” He went on to emphasize the gravity of such sin, urging that even a good person, however esteemed, should be held accountable if they resort to swearing and urged: “Should anyone demand an oath from you, let the fear of God outweigh any coercion. If we withstand the commands of men, how much more the Divine?”

Augustine observed: “Do not be misled by instances when the Lord swore, for only He can do so truthfully.” He recognized that calling upon God as witness, done out of reverent fear, is not inherently sinful, as he would also affirm his words by invoking God.

At the Fourth Ecumenical Council, it was determined that Egyptian bishops should oath an explanation for their delay in signing an important epistle. These various views from the Apostles and Church Fathers illustrate the complexity and contradictions surrounding the topic of oaths.

Thus, what stance should one adopt when faced with the necessity of an oath? Essentially, the Orthodox Church permits oaths when requested by the governing authorities, though it views them as sin within personal interactions. There are exceptions to judicial oaths, where witnesses who are unlikely to provide truthful testimony are often exempted, aligning with St. John Chrysostom’s advice to avoid compelling those lacking integrity to swear.

Judges operate based on their understanding of evidence rather than the weight of testimony given under oath. While oaths have historically signified formal truth, this notion has diminished, warranting a reevaluation of their necessity in modern governance. The advancement towards reducing obligatory oath-taking reflects an understanding consistent with Christ's directives.

In essence, the call for honesty aligns closely with the command to avoid oaths, as true righteousness should render oaths unnecessary in the relationships between believers.

Jesus instructs, "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 not be construed as an absolute prohibition but rather as a directive not to swear under any circumstances by these created things. Though swearing by God's name does occur in the Old and New Testaments (see Rom. 1:9; 2 Cor. 1:23; Phlp. 1:8; 1 Thess. 2:5, 10; Rev. 10:6), in this context, Jesus' words should be understood as a strict avoidance of all oaths referencing heaven, earth, or Jerusalem.

Some interpret this passage to dismiss the validity of oaths entirely, acknowledging a misunderstanding of the term σ῞λως, which does not imply an absolute negation. Instead, it conveys a sense of approximation or conditionality. The intent here indicates not swearing by heaven or earth, affirmatively. Christ reiterates the essence of the third commandment, which prohibits the casual or irreverent invocation of oaths but does not preclude the taking of oaths themselves when calling upon God as a witness to our commitments and as our aid in fulfilling them. Nevertheless, He explicitly forbids swearing by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or one's head.

Why is this significant? The Apostle notes that "Men swear by the highest things" (Hebrews 6:16), signifying that Jews customarily swore by these revered symbols as they were perceived to be close to the divine presence. Jesus reinforces this perspective by stating that heaven is God’s throne, the earth His footstool, and Jerusalem the city of the great King, highlighting that in these places, God's glory and sovereignty are intimately revealed. Even our heads, seemingly our own, fall under God's dominion and care. These references serve as profound symbols of divine majesty and goodness. However, swearing by such symbols often arose from a desire to avoid directly invoking God's name, leading to false or vain assurances. The Pharisaic practice employed a façade to adhere to the commandment, opting for oaths that seemingly bypassed the use of God’s name while still resulting in insincerity. Jesus condemns this Pharisaic subterfuge in His confrontation with the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:20-22), categorically rejecting the practice of swearing by the heavens and earth as a form of deceit. Instead of such empty oaths, the Lord instructs His followers to affirm their statements plainly, adding that such frivolous oaths are inspired by evil, namely the devil.