Matthew 5:35
or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus connects swearing by Jerusalem to its identity as the "city of the great King," highlighting that even specific places are imbued with God's presence and authority, not just abstract realms like heaven. This implies that any oath, even by seemingly less significant things, ultimately draws on God's sovereignty, making every casual oath a potential misuse of His divine majesty.
Jesus is continuing his teaching on fulfilling the Law, explaining that true righteousness goes beyond outward actions to the heart's intention. He's challenging the superficial interpretations and practices of his day, particularly regarding oaths. He's just told them not to swear by heaven, and now he's extending that to not swearing by the earth or the city of Jerusalem, explaining the divine significance of these places.
Why would swearing by the earth or Jerusalem be considered swearing by God?
Jesus is calling us to a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty. When he says, 'neither by the earth, for it is his footstool,' he's reminding us that the earth, in all its vastness and beauty, is merely a place where God rests His feet. It reflects His glory and power.
Similarly, when He mentions Jerusalem, 'for it is the city of the great King,' He points to the city as the place where God's royal presence is specially manifest. These elements of creation and special places are not independent entities; they are tied directly to God and His rule.
Therefore, to swear by them is, in effect, to invoke God's authority, power, and judgment, even if unintentionally. It’s a recognition that nothing exists outside of God's domain and that all things ultimately point back to Him.
If oaths by creation are oaths by God, what does this say about the casual oaths we hear and use?
Jesus' teaching here is a radical call to honesty and integrity in our speech. The common Jewish practice of the day involved avoiding direct oaths by God's name while still using oaths by elements connected to God (like heaven, earth, or Jerusalem). They thought they were being clever, finding a loophole to avoid the sin of perjury.
Jesus cuts through this by revealing that these indirect oaths are still invoking God's authority. If the earth is God's footstool and Jerusalem His royal city, then swearing by them is essentially swearing by the King himself. This exposes the shallowness of their attempts to bypass God's commandment.
His conclusion, 'Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No,' is a call to a life so grounded in truth that oaths become unnecessary. It means our word should be our bond, reflecting the trustworthiness of God Himself.
Understand the original words
gē · Greek Noun
The physical world and the land; in biblical imagery, it is the place of human habitation under God's dominion.
hypopodion · Greek Noun
A rest for the feet, symbolizing complete subjection and the vastness of God's presence over His creation.
Hierosolyma · Greek Noun
The holy city of Israel, the location of the Temple, and the symbolic center of God's earthly dwelling and kingdom.
megas basileus · Greek Noun phrase
A title for God emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, power, and universal reign over all the nations.
Jesus' teaching here directly challenges the common Jewish practice of swearing by created things like the earth or Jerusalem, showing that these were not loopholes to avoid the commandment against misusing God's name, but rather direct violations, as these things belong to God.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy
The prophet Isaiah declared God's sovereignty, referring to the heavens as His throne and the earth as His footstool.
c. 500 BC
Praise for Jerusalem
The Psalmist sang of Jerusalem as the city of the great King, highlighting its sacred significance under God's rule.
1st Century AD
Jewish Oaths and Vows
During the Second Temple period, Jewish traditions developed complex rules around oaths and vows, sometimes leading to less reverence for God's name. Casual oaths by created things became common.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount
Jesus preached His core teachings to His disciples and the crowds, including this instruction on the nature of true speech and the avoidance of casual oaths.
This passage directly informs Jesus' words, stating that heaven is God's throne and the earth is His footstool, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty over all creation.
Psalm 48:2This Psalm describes Jerusalem as the city of the great King, which Jesus alludes to, highlighting the sacredness and divine importance of the city.
Deuteronomy 6:13This verse commands the Israelites to fear the Lord their God, serve him, and swear by His name, providing the context for the Old Testament allowance of swearing by God only.
James 5:12This New Testament passage echoes Jesus' teaching here, stating 'Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No,' so that you may not fall under judgment,' reinforcing the call for simple truthfulness.
calvinMatthew 5:33-37: "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:"
- Again, ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not perjure thyself: but thou shalt perform to the Lord what thou hast sworn. 34. But I charge you, swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God: 35. Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King…
pulpitMatthew 5:35: "Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King."
Verse 35. - Nor by Jerusalem. The Hebraistic ἐν is here exchanged for the less unclassical εἰς, the reason, perhaps, being that definite direction of one's thought towards Jerusalem was, as it seems, insisted upon by some. "Rabbi Judah saith, He that saith, By Jerusalem, saith nothing, unless with an intent purpose he shall vow towards Jerusalem" (Tosipht., 'Ned.,' 1, in Lightf…
Jesus connects swearing by Jerusalem to its identity as the "city of the great King," highlighting that even specific places are imbued with God's presence and authority, not just abstract realms like heaven. This implies that any oath, even by seemingly less significant things, ultimately draws on God's sovereignty, making every casual oath a potential misuse of His divine majesty.
Jesus is continuing his teaching on fulfilling the Law, explaining that true righteousness goes beyond outward actions to the heart's intention. He's challenging the superficial interpretations and practices of his day, particularly regarding oaths. He's just told them not to swear by heaven, and now he's extending that to not swearing by the earth or the city of Jerusalem, explaining the divine significance of these places.
Jesus is continuing his teaching on fulfilling the Law, explaining that true righteousness goes beyond outward actions to the heart's intention. He's challenging the superficial interpretations and practices of his day, particularly regarding oaths. He's just told them not to swear by heaven, and now he's extending that to not swearing by the earth or the city of Jerusalem, explaining the divine significance of these places.
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"or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King." — Jesus connects swearing by Jerusalem to its identity as the "city of the great King," highlighting that even specific places are imbued with God's presence and authority, not just abstract realms lik…
