Bible Study on Matthew 5, verses 33 to 37, just yes or no

 

Matthew 5:33 ¶  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

 

Again, similar to our Supreme Court that claims to interpret the meaning of the original Constitution let’s look at what came from God through Moses.

 

Numbers 30:2  If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

 

Here, Jesus, not negating the Law but in keeping with the last passage about being better off to lose a hand or an eye than be cast into Hell for your lust says here that it is better not to swear at all. He gives very valid reasons including our powerlessness in making such oaths as we do not have the ultimate capacity to control events that might prevent us from keeping such a promise.

 

Notice how the hairs of our head are numbered, a number we cannot know.

 

Matthew 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

 

Ultimately Christ calls for very straightforward communication from us. Words mean something and our words should be plain and clear and honest. Let us dispense with all such, “I swear I’ll…,” or, “As God is my witness …,” and other such obsolete and uncalled for declarations.

 

Notice verse 35 a perhaps future prophecy in that Jerusalem will be Christ’s capital when He reigns on earth physically for a thousand years. Some authorities believe the following is a reference to the millennium.

 

Zechariah 8:21  And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.22  Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. 23  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.