Bible Study series: Matthew 5:33-37. Multiplying words can be detrimental at final judgment.
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In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
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Let’s begin.
Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37
33 Again, you have heard that it has been said to the people of old, “You shall not swear falsely. You shall give back to the Lord the oaths you have sworn” [Lev. 19:12; Deut. 23:22-23]. 34 But I tell you not to swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35 neither by the earth because it is the footstool for his feet; neither by Jerusalem because it is the city of the great King; 36 neither should you swear by your head because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 But let your word be “yes, yes, no, no.” Anything beyond them is from the evil one. (Matt. 5:33-37)
Comments
Fourth Antithesis: “You have heard it said … but I tell you.” See v. 20 for more comments. As noted, the antitheses are the intensification of some elements of the Torah (Osborne, p. 189).
Recall Jeremiah 31:33 quoted at the top of this post. In the New Covenant, Jesus is going right to the heart, which is better than the Sinai Covenant.
33:
Here are the background verses in the OT:
You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. (Lev. 19:12, ESV)
Moral and Other Laws in Leviticus 19 from a NT Perspective
Vows and Redemption in Leviticus 27 from a NT Perspective
22 But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. 23 You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth. (Deut. 23:22-23, ESV)
At the end of this pericope (section or unit), Jesus endorses Deut. 23:22: “But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty” Don’t make an oath or swear at all.
34-35:
The Rabbis developed a hierarchy of solemnity and binding for oaths. For example, swearing by Jerusalem was not binding, but swearing toward Jerusalem was (Carson). The hierarchy got very complicated, needlessly so.
The list of objects in the oath go downward in importance: Heaven, earth, Jerusalem and even by one’s head. In the latter item I perceive a little irony. If you cannot make your hair black or white, then how can you swear by the items way outside your jurisdiction (heaven, earth, and Jerusalem)? First-century Jews swore oaths to make people believe their word. Jesus, on the other hand, sweeps all of this aside and tells people that there must be a match between the kingdom citizen’s word and his integrity.
On the other hand, God swears oaths (Gen. 9:9-11; Luke 1:68, 73; Ps. 16:10 and Acts 2:27-31). He does this to make people believe and increase their faith in his promise, not because he is dishonest (of course not!). He relates to humans on their own level.
“great King”: it probably refers to God; however, see Matthew 25:34, which says that King Jesus will preside over judgment. So early on, Jesus probably intended his audience to think of God, but as his ministry progressed, he will clarify, for those who have ears to hear, that he is the great King, for the Father is handing everything over to him.
37:
Grammarian Olmstead indicates that the repetition of “yes, yes, no, no” simply means “clearly,” so he translates the clause: “Let your word be a clear ‘yes’ or a clear ‘no’” …. I can’t argue with him; I’m sure he’s right. But I like to keep things literal and allow the reader to decide.
The Torah allowed oaths, but as we saw in Deut. 23:22, it was better not to swear one at all. Jesus agrees.
Quakers to this day don’t swear oaths in a court of law, but instead they “affirm” that they will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. However, let your conscience be your guide in a law court because in 5:33-37 Jesus is simply talking about swearing to make yourself believable: “I swear by the temple that I will repay you in one month, sir!” Or “I swear by heaven that if God brings me safely home, I will sacrifice these animals and bring this food stuff to the temple!” In the kingdom of God that Jesus is ushering in, no one needs to make a deal with God. Just trust him to bring you home safely and pray during your trip. And thank him when he does.
Also, kingdom citizens don’t have to swear to make their words believable to another kingdom citizen; instead, they keep their word out of the integrity that the kingdom had already worked within them.
“from the evil one”: it could be translated “from evil.” Either one is perfectly valid, grammatically.
This proverb is applicable:
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (Prov. 10:19, ESV)
Also Matthew 12:36-37 is sobering:
36 And I tell you that every careless word which people will speak, they will return an account for it on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be vindicated, or by your words you will be condemned. (Matt. 12:36-37)
Too many words mean that sin is not absent, and Jesus will hold everyone accountable for unjust words, like lying or whacky comments on social media.
Everyone Shall Be Judged by Their Works and Words
GrowApp for Matt. 5:33-37
1. Do you keep your word? Do you fulfill your promises? If not, where do you start in changing your unstable character?
2. How do you let God work honesty and integrity in you?
RELATED
9. Authoritative Testimony in Matthew’s Gospel
1. Church Fathers and Matthew’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
14. Similarities among John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
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