Oaths
Matthew 5:35 “Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.”
Our
word should be our bond. Whatever we say, we must stick by it. But
Jesus said oaths should not even be necessary: Do
not swear at all.
The fact that oaths were used at all emphasized the wickedness of
man’s heart. Furthermore, swearing “by heaven,” “by the
earth,” or “by Jerusalem” is
binding, since they are God’s
throne… footstool,
and city,
respectively.
The matter of making oaths (Lev. 19:12; Deut. 23:21) was next addressed by the Lord. The Pharisees were notorious for their oaths, which were made on the least provocation. Yet they made allowances for mental reservations within their oaths. If they wanted to be relieved of oaths they had made by heaven… by the earth… by Jerusalem.
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