Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The true heart of Jesus' command isn't just about avoiding casual swearing, but about cultivating such radical honesty that your simple "yes" or "no" becomes as binding as any oath. Anything beyond that, any added emphasis or flourish, hints at a deeper dishonesty or lack of trust, revealing a source rooted in something other than pure truth.
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in the midst of delivering the Sermon on the Mount, where he's unpacking what it truly means to follow God's law. He's already addressed anger and lust, now he's moving to oaths and vows, contrasting his followers' speech with the common, often manipulative, practices of his day and the superficial interpretations of the Law that had become prevalent. This verse is the conclusion to his teaching on not swearing falsely, urging a radical honesty that makes oaths unnecessary.
Jesus isn't just talking about not lying. He's calling us to a higher standard of speech that goes deeper than just avoiding falsehood.
The instruction to let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no' is often understood as a command against lying. But Jesus is pointing us to something more profound.
The Depth of Jesus' Command
Why does Jesus say anything 'more' than a simple 'yes' or 'no' comes from evil? It’s a strong statement about the root of our speech.
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Jesus connects excessive speech—anything beyond a straightforward affirmation or denial—to 'evil.' This doesn't necessarily mean every person using extra words is intentionally malicious, but it points to the unhealthy origins of such speech patterns.
Unpacking 'Comes from Evil'
Understand the original words
ponēros · Greek Adjective (used as a Noun)
That which is morally corrupt, wicked, or opposed to God's character and will. In the New Testament, it can refer to the quality of an action or specifically to the 'evil one' (Satan).
This passage directly echoes Jesus' teaching, reiterating the command to let one's 'yes' be yes and one's 'no' be no, highlighting the importance of simple, truthful speech.
Proverbs 12:22This proverb speaks to the value of truthfulness in speech, stating that liars are detestable, while those who deal honestly are trusted, reinforcing Jesus' emphasis on integrity.
Ephesians 4:25Paul instructs believers to put off falsehood and speak truthfully to one another, aligning with Jesus' call for authentic communication that doesn't require oaths to be believed.
Leviticus 19:12This Old Testament law prohibits taking God's name in vain or swearing falsely, providing the historical and legal context for Jesus' stricter interpretation of honoring God's name through honest speech.
barnesMatthew 5:37: "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
But let your communication - Your word; what you say. Be, Yea - Yes. This does not mean that we should always use the word "yea," for it might as well have been translated "yes"; but it means that we should simply affirm or declare that a thing is so. More than these - More than these affirmations. Cometh of evil - Is evil. Proceeds from some evil disposition or purpose. And from…
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…
The true heart of Jesus' command isn't just about avoiding casual swearing, but about cultivating such radical honesty that your simple "yes" or "no" becomes as binding as any oath. Anything beyond that, any added emphasis or flourish, hints at a deeper dishonesty or lack of trust, revealing a source rooted in something other than pure truth.
Jesus is in the midst of delivering the Sermon on the Mount, where he's unpacking what it truly means to follow God's law. He's already addressed anger and lust, now he's moving to oaths and vows, contrasting his followers' speech with the common, often manipulative, practices of his day and the superficial interpretations of the Law that had become prevalent. This verse is the conclusion to his teaching on not swearing falsely, urging a radical honesty that makes oaths unnecessary.
Jesus is in the midst of delivering the Sermon on the Mount, where he's unpacking what it truly means to follow God's law. He's already addressed anger and lust, now he's moving to oaths and vows, contrasting his followers' speech with the common, often manipulative, practices of his day and the superficial interpretations of the Law that had become prevalent. This verse is the conclusion to his teaching on not swearing falsely, urging a radical honesty that makes oaths unnecessary.
"Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil." — The true heart of Jesus' command isn't just about avoiding casual swearing, but about cultivating such radical honesty that your simple "yes" or "no" becomes as binding as any oath. Anything beyond t…
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Last reviewed October 2026