Matthew 5:34-37
~3 min read
“…At first sight, it appears as if Jesus forbade the taking of vows…”
In Matthew 5:34-36, Jesus said, Swear not at all; neither by heaven for it is God’s throne, or by the earth or Jerusalem for there are His footstool and the city of the great King, or by thy head for one cannot make his hair white or black. At first sight, it appears as if Jesus forbade the taking of vows. If that is the case, then what about the marriage vows or church membership vows? Are we contradicting ourselves by doing something that Jesus forbade? Most certainly not!
In those days, there were people who swore upon heaven, the earth, Jerusalem or even their own head, and why did they do that? The reason was to add “more truth” to what they said. Oftentimes, they were lying and not speaking the truth, therefore they needed something to back-up what they said. Similar to the way in modern times, when some people would swear upon their parents’ graves. Why do they do that? To authenticate or substantiate what they say is true. To let the listeners have the impression that what they said is so true, real and serious that they are willing to use their parents’ graves as a “guarantee” or “collateral.”
Dear children, what we speak is either true or false, and anything else we say is totally unnecessary for it cannot add more or less truth to it. When we always speak the truth, we do not need to back-up what we say. Therefore, Jesus said, But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil (Matthew 5:37). Simply speak the truth always, and you will not need to resort to swear on anything to make your truth more truthful. So, Jesus was not forbidding taking vows, but He was speaking about those people who were not speaking the truth and needed to swear to add more truth or back-up what they said.
2024 TERM 2Love Your Enemies (Part 1)Love Your Enemies (Part 1)Matthew 5:44
Love Instead Of RetaliationLove Instead Of RetaliationMatthew 5:38-41
Are We Forbidden To Take Vows?Are We Forbidden To Take Vows?Matthew 5:34-37
Christ’s Teaching About MarriageChrist’s Teaching About MarriageMatthew 5:31-32
Do Everything You Can To Protect Yourself From SinDo Everything You Can To Protect Yourself From SinMatthew 5:28-30
The Unforgiving SpiritThe Unforgiving SpiritMatthew 5:24
Who Has Not Sinned?Who Has Not Sinned?Matthew 5:20
Obey The Ten CommandmentsObey The Ten CommandmentsMatthew 5:17-18
Ye Are The Light Of The World (Part 2)Ye Are The Light Of The World (Part 2)Matthew 5:14b
Ye Are The Light Of The World (Part 1)Ye Are The Light Of The World (Part 1)Matthew 5:14a
Ye Are The Salt Of The Earth (Part 2)Ye Are The Salt Of The Earth (Part 2)Matthew 5:13b
Ye Are The Salt Of The Earth (Part 1)Ye Are The Salt Of The Earth (Part 1)Matthew 5:13a
Our Response To The ResurrectionOur Response To The ResurrectionPhilippians 3:10-11