Matthew 5:34-37

Bible Text

but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

Jerusalem was the historic capital of Israel and the site of God’s temple, called “the city of the great King” because of God’s covenantal presence and rule. In Jesus’ warning against careless oaths, swearing by Jerusalem invokes God’s authority and therefore cannot make one’s speech more truthful.

Places in this passage

Matthew 5:34-37 mentions Jerusalem.

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