Matthew 5 34

Matthew 5:34 kjv

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Matthew 5:34 nkjv

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

Matthew 5:34 niv

But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;

Matthew 5:34 esv

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

Matthew 5:34 nlt

But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, 'By heaven!' because heaven is God's throne.

Matthew 5 verses

Matthew 5 34 Meaning

Matthew 5:34 teaches a profound principle about truthfulness and integrity in speech. Jesus commands His followers to live with such honesty that there is no need to bind their words with oaths. Instead of swearing by sacred things like heaven or earth, implying some words require external validation while others do not, a simple "yes" or "no" should suffice. The reason given is that all creation, including heaven and earth, belongs to God, and one cannot use divine property lightly as a guarantor for human words. This challenges the common practice of the day, where people used varying degrees of oaths to signify different levels of commitment or to avoid accountability.

Matthew 5 34 Context

This verse is part of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, specifically within the section (Mt 5:21-48) where He addresses the Law ("You have heard that it was said... but I tell you"). Jesus isn't abolishing the Old Testament Law but fulfilling and intensifying it, revealing its true spirit beyond superficial legalistic interpretation. He confronts various contemporary Jewish practices and interpretations, aiming for a righteousness that surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees. In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus critiques the common use of oaths, moving beyond the simple prohibition against false swearing in the Mosaic Law (e.g., Lev 19:12). The religious leaders of the day had developed a system that allowed them to make oaths by things lesser than God's name (like heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or one's head) and considered these oaths less binding or even non-binding, thus providing loopholes for dishonesty. Jesus's teaching here demands a radical level of integrity, where a believer's word alone carries full weight and trustworthiness, without needing an external sacred object to validate it.

Matthew 5 34 Word analysis

• But (δέ - de): Marks a contrast or transition. Here, it contrasts Jesus's teaching with the previously held understanding of oaths, often misinterpreted or misused.
• I say to you (λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν - legō de hymin): This phrase emphasizes Jesus's divine authority as the Lawgiver and Interpreter of the divine will. It is a powerful declaration, presenting a higher standard of righteousness.
• Do not swear (μὴ ὀμόσαι - mē omosai): The Greek verb omnyō (ὀμνύω) means "to swear," "to take an oath." The negative particle mē makes it a direct prohibition.
• at all (ὅλως - holōs): An adverb intensifying the prohibition, meaning "wholly," "altogether," "in every way." It signifies an absolute prohibition concerning the manner or type of swearing, particularly the casual, evasive, or manipulative oaths of that culture. It implies an integrity that makes all such swearing unnecessary.
• neither by heaven (μήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ - mēte en tō ouranō): Ouranos (οὐρανός) refers to the sky or heavens, God's dwelling place. This gives the first example of a common object of oath-taking that Jesus forbids. Swearing by heaven implies invoking God without directly naming Him, a loophole some sought.
• for it is God's throne (ὅτι θρόνος ἐστὶν τοῦ θεοῦ - hoti thronos estin tou theou): Thronos (θρόνος) means "throne," signifying the seat of power and authority. This provides the rationale for the prohibition: Heaven is not a neutral entity; it is the very seat of God's sovereign presence and rule. Therefore, to swear by it is to invoke God Himself, even indirectly.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But I say to you, Do not swear at all": This segment clearly presents Jesus's new and authoritative teaching, directly challenging the prevailing practice and standard of His time regarding oath-taking. The absolute nature implied by "at all" signifies that the disciple's words should be so truthful that no external oath is needed to validate them. This targets casual, deceptive, or ritualistic oaths rather than legal affirmations.
• "neither by heaven, for it is God's throne": This provides a specific example of what not to swear by and, critically, gives the theological reason for the prohibition. By using created things like heaven for oaths, one indirectly involves God, whose presence permeates all creation. Heaven is depicted as God's throne (as also seen in Isa 66:1), emphasizing His sovereignty and that these things are not mere objects for human manipulation or frivolous oath-taking. This reveals the deeper theological premise: all creation is under God's dominion, and to swear by any part of it is implicitly to swear by the Creator.

Matthew 5 34 Bonus section

The broader cultural background to this teaching involved the Jewish legal scholars, especially those influenced by the Pharisees, who categorized oaths based on the object sworn by. They held that some oaths (like swearing directly by the name of God) were absolutely binding, while others (like swearing by Jerusalem or the temple) were less binding, or even non-binding if not coupled with the divine name. This created a loophole for perjury and dishonest dealings. Jesus vehemently opposed this hypocrisy, as further illustrated in Matthew 23:16-22, where He denounces the Scribes and Pharisees for teaching these distinctions to escape the weight of truth. His teaching pushes believers to live with such purity and sincerity that every word spoken is truthful and reliable, making a distinction between "oath-bound truth" and "regular truth" completely unnecessary. This reflects the transformation of the heart that Jesus advocates throughout the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5 34 Commentary

Matthew 5:34 is a radical call to integrity and authenticity in speech for Christ's followers. Jesus aims to dismantle a system where people felt they could manipulate truth through graded oaths, rendering some solemn and others trivial. His command, "Do not swear at all," isn't necessarily an absolute ban on all forms of oaths (as evidenced by biblical examples of God swearing, Paul taking oaths, and judicial oaths in the Old Testament), but rather a condemnation of unnecessary, casual, or evasive oaths used to bolster questionable claims or avoid accountability.

The core of Jesus's teaching is that the Christian's word should always be their bond. There should be no distinction between casual talk and sworn declarations, because all speech should flow from a heart devoted to truth (Mt 12:34-37). Swearing by creation (heaven, earth, Jerusalem, one's head, as Mt 5:35-36 adds) is prohibited because these are not independent entities but belong entirely to God, reflecting His presence and authority. To swear by them is indirectly to swear by God Himself, treating divine property with disrespect or presumptuousness. The desired outcome is a community where a simple "Yes" means "Yes," and "No" means "No" (Jas 5:12), eliminating the need for complex oath structures to ensure truth. This highlights a superior righteousness born of genuine inner truthfulness.