Sermon on the Mount: Oaths
Matthew 5:33–37 (ESV)

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’
But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

The Problem with Promises

In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses a practice that had become common in His day: making oaths to back up one’s words. People swore by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem—even by their own heads—to sound more convincing. But behind all that was often a heart that was trying to sound trustworthy without actually being trustworthy.

Jesus cuts through the performance. He calls His followers to live with such integrity that their words don’t need to be dressed up or sealed with a vow. A simple yes or no should be enough. If you’re honest, you won’t need to convince people—you’ll just speak the truth.

Words that Reflect the Heart

Jesus isn’t just talking about avoiding legal jargon or flashy promises. He’s pointing to something deeper: the integrity of our hearts. Oaths had become a way to dodge responsibility. People would swear by things other than God to avoid true accountability. But Jesus reminds us that everything is connected to God—heaven, earth, Jerusalem, even our own heads. There's no escaping His presence or His authority.

That means every word we say matters. Whether we’re making a promise, answering a question, or simply having a conversation—God sees it all. And our speech should reflect the truth of who we are in Him.

A Better Way to Speak

Jesus gives us a better way: say what you mean, mean what you say, and let your life be marked by honesty. In a culture that often celebrates spin, manipulation, and half-truths, Christ calls us to be different. He calls us to live with integrity—where our “yes” truly means yes, and our “no” means no.

It’s a simple command, but a profound one. One that challenges us every day in the way we speak to others, make commitments, and follow through. May our words be consistent with our actions—and may both reflect the character of the God we follow.