Matthew 5:37
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus isn't just saying "don't lie"; he's revealing that any need to add emphasis beyond a simple "yes" or "no" signals something is wrong. This "more" indicates a lack of trust rooted in deceit, and Christ directly links it to the influence of "evil"—either the abstract concept or the "evil one" himself.
Jesus is continuing his Sermon on the Mount, directly addressing common interpretations and practices of Jewish law that he sees as missing the deeper meaning. He's already challenged the understanding of murder and adultery, and now he's tackling oaths and sworn testimony, showing how the intent behind the law goes far beyond mere outward compliance. Jesus is pushing his followers towards a radical honesty and integrity that makes excessive or casual swearing unnecessary.
Why does Jesus tell us to only say 'Yes' or 'No'? What's so wrong with a little extra emphasis?
Jesus is calling for radical honesty and integrity in our speech. He's not just talking about avoiding outright lies, but about the way we speak.
The Heart of the Matter
If our 'yes' is truly 'yes,' why did Jesus even bring up oaths in the first place?
Jesus is challenging the way people had come to use oaths. It wasn't just about avoiding outright perjury; it was about the casual, often manipulative, way oaths were employed.
Why Oaths Became a Problem:
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 here, emphasizing that our 'yes' should be 'yes' and our 'no' should be 'no,' and anything beyond that originates from a place of falsehood or deceit.
Matthew 23:16-22Jesus here condemns the Pharisees for their hypocritical oaths, showing how they tried to circumvent God's commands by swearing by lesser things, highlighting the spirit behind Jesus' prohibition in Matthew 5:37.
Proverbs 12:22This proverb states that 'lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are his delight,' underscoring the value God places on honesty and straightforward speech that Jesus commands.
Luke 11:2-4While not directly about oaths, the structure of the Lord's Prayer, particularly asking for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, implies a desire for a kingdom characterized by truth and integrity, where such simple affirmation is enough.
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…
Jesus isn't just saying "don't lie"; he's revealing that any need to add emphasis beyond a simple "yes" or "no" signals something is wrong. This "more" indicates a lack of trust rooted in deceit, and Christ directly links it to the influence of "evil"—either the abstract concept or the "evil one" himself.
Jesus is continuing his Sermon on the Mount, directly addressing common interpretations and practices of Jewish law that he sees as missing the deeper meaning. He's already challenged the understanding of murder and adultery, and now he's tackling oaths and sworn testimony, showing how the intent behind the law goes far beyond mere outward compliance. Jesus is pushing his followers towards a radical honesty and integrity that makes excessive or casual swearing unnecessary.
Jesus is continuing his Sermon on the Mount, directly addressing common interpretations and practices of Jewish law that he sees as missing the deeper meaning. He's already challenged the understanding of murder and adultery, and now he's tackling oaths and sworn testimony, showing how the behind the law goes far beyond mere outward compliance. Jesus is pushing his followers towards a radical honesty and integrity that makes excessive or casual swearing unnecessary.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 5:37 is available in the Sola app.
"Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil." — Jesus isn't just saying "don't lie"; he's revealing that any need to add emphasis beyond a simple "yes" or "no" signals something is wrong. This "more" indicates a lack of trust rooted in deceit, a…
