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)
Jesus isn't just forbidding common oaths; he's revealing that by swearing by the earth or Jerusalem, people were inadvertently swearing by God, since these are His footstool and His royal city. He's pointing out that these forbidden oaths were already invoking God, exposing the flimsiness of their attempts to circumvent His command.
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)
Jesus is teaching his disciples about a higher righteousness, building on the Law of Moses but going deeper. He's showing how his followers should live out God's commands in a way that reflects true sincerity, not just outward observance. This passage specifically addresses the misuse of oaths and vows, correcting the common Jewish practice of swearing by lesser things to avoid the weight of swearing by God directly.
Why does Jesus bring up the earth when talking about oaths? It's more than just dirt beneath our feet.
Jesus here points to the earth as God's 'footstool'. This isn't about God being confined or resting His feet! It's a powerful image showing that the entire earth, vast as it is, is under His dominion and authority.
A Humble Throne
The 'footstool' imagery emphasizes God's immense sovereignty. Even the ground we walk on is a place where God's presence is acknowledged and His rule is absolute. It highlights that no part of creation is outside of His control.
Created Order Matters
By referencing the earth, Jesus is saying that creation itself testifies to God. When we swear by the earth, we're implicitly invoking the One who made it and rules it. This isn't neutral ground; it's a sacred space because God has claimed it.
What makes Jerusalem so special that Jesus forbids swearing by it? It's about recognizing who holds the ultimate authority.
Jesus forbids swearing by Jerusalem because it is the 'city of the great King.' This isn't just any city; it's the place God chose to manifest His presence and establish His rule.
A Symbol of Divine Authority
Jerusalem was the center of worship and the seat of the Davidic kings, who were seen as God's representatives on earth. To swear by Jerusalem was to invoke God's covenant and His chosen dwelling place. Jesus highlights that even this significant city belongs to God and is under the authority of the 'great King,' Himself.
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The True King's Domain
When Jesus calls God the 'great King,' He's emphasizing God's ultimate and supreme authority over all kingdoms, including the one represented by Jerusalem. By forbidding oaths by Jerusalem, Jesus is redirecting focus from earthly, albeit divinely ordained, symbols of power to the King Himself.
Why does Jesus push us beyond even 'legitimate' oaths? He’s after something deeper than just avoiding lies.
Jesus isn't just giving a list of forbidden oath-objects. He’s correcting a deep-seated error in how people viewed oaths and truthfulness. The Jewish people had developed a system where they believed swearing by creation (heaven, earth) or even significant places like Jerusalem was less binding than swearing directly by God's name. They thought they could use these 'lesser' oaths to be less accountable.
God Owns Everything
Jesus dismantles this by showing that everything belongs to God. The earth is His footstool, Jerusalem is His city. You can't swear by anything without involving God, because He is sovereign over all. Trying to circumvent accountability by swearing by creation is like trying to lie to God by using His own possessions as a shield.
The Goal: Radical Honesty
Ultimately, Jesus calls for a life of such radical truthfulness and integrity that oaths become unnecessary. Your 'yes' should be a firm 'yes,' and your 'no' a definitive 'no.' This reflects a heart aligned with God, where honesty is the default, not an exception requiring a solemn vow. The true follower of Christ lives by a higher standard of integrity, where words are trustworthy because the person is trustworthy, reflecting God's own faithfulness.
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' warning against swearing by the earth or Jerusalem directly challenges the common Jewish practice of the time, where oaths invoking these sacred elements were seen as less binding than oaths sworn directly by God, yet still held deep religious significance tied to the Temple and God's presence.
c. 975 BC
Temple in Jerusalem Completed
King Solomon completed the First Temple in Jerusalem, solidifying the city's status as the religious and political center of Israel.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the displacement of its people and increasing Jerusalem's importance as the sole remaining capital for the Israelites.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and First Temple
The Babylonian Empire destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling much of the population. This event profoundly impacted Jewish identity and their relationship with God and the land.
516 BC
Second Temple Completed
Returning exiles, with Persian support, rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem. This marked a significant moment of restoration and continuity for Jewish worship and national identity.
c. 332 BC
Alexander the Great Conquers Jerusalem
Greek rule began in Jerusalem, leading to Hellenistic influences and subsequent tensions between Greek culture and Jewish religious tradition.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
Jewish revolt against Seleucid oppression, re-dedicating the Temple and establishing a period of Hasmonean rule. This highlighted the deep reverence for Jerusalem and its sanctity.
c. 20-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus taught and ministered, including delivering the Sermon on the Mount in Galilee, addressing the religious practices and interpretations of the Law prevalent among Jewish people.
This passage directly informs Jesus' explanation in Matthew 5:35, explicitly stating that the heavens are God's throne and the earth is His footstool, underscoring His sovereignty over both.
Psalm 48:2This psalm is alluded to when Jesus calls Jerusalem the city of the great King, highlighting Jerusalem's divine significance as the place where God's glory was manifested and His presence resided.
Leviticus 18:21While not a direct quote, this passage prohibiting the passing of children through fire to Molech relates to the broader theme of not giving God's glory to other 'gods' or in profane ways, which is the underlying principle Jesus addresses regarding oaths by created things.
Deuteronomy 6:13This passage commands Israel to fear the Lord and swear by His name alone, which Jesus elevates by showing that swearing by created things is, in essence, swearing by God as their Creator and King, thus prohibiting such indirect oaths.
James 5:12This passage echoes Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5, directly stating 'let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No,' so that you may not fall under judgment,' reinforcing the call for truthful and simple speech.
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 isn't just forbidding common oaths; he's revealing that by swearing by the earth or Jerusalem, people were inadvertently swearing by God, since these are His footstool and His royal city. He's pointing out that these forbidden oaths were already invoking God, exposing the flimsiness of their attempts to circumvent His command.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about a higher righteousness, building on the Law of Moses but going deeper. He's showing how his followers should live out God's commands in a way that reflects true sincerity, not just outward observance. This passage specifically addresses the misuse of oaths and vows, correcting the common Jewish practice of swearing by lesser things to avoid the weight of swearing by God directly.
Jesus is teaching his disciples about a higher righteousness, building on the Law of Moses but going deeper. He's showing how his followers should live out God's commands in a way that reflects true sincerity, not just outward observance. This passage specifically addresses the misuse of oaths and vows, correcting the common Jewish practice of swearing by lesser things to avoid the weight of swearing by God directly.
"or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King." — Jesus isn't just forbidding common oaths; he's revealing that by swearing by the earth or Jerusalem, people were inadvertently swearing by God, since these are His footstool and His royal city. He's…
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Last reviewed October 2026