Matthew 5:34. That ye swear not at all, lit., ‘not to swear at all.' The reason is given, in Matthew 5:37. The prohibition is absolute for private and social life, and also for the kingdom of heaven, for which alone Christ legislates here. Civil governments, on account of the fearful amount of falsehood in the world (comp. Matthew 5:37), must require judicial oaths as a guarantee of veracity. That these are not referred to we infer from the example of our Lord (chap. Matthew 26:63-64), and of His Apostles (Romans 1:9 ; Galatians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15:31). Objection to them often becomes a species of Pharisaism. Yet such oaths are not to be lightly administered. The next examples refer to the habit, so silly and sinful, of swearing in ordinary conversation.

Neither by the heaven. An oath then used, and considered allowable.

For it is the throne of God. To swear by heaven, is to swear by God Himself. Otherwise the oath is senseless. A condemnation of many phrases which are corrupted forms of actual oaths, and are used by those who scruple to swear outright

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Old Testament