Swear not at all
But our Lord here absolutely forbids all common swearing, as well as false swearing, and shows how serious both are by the same solemn consideration: that every creature is God's, and he is present everywhere, in all and over all.
I say to you, do not swear at all (Matthew 5:34), neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, and therefore this is the same as swearing by him who sits on the circle of the heavens, nor by the earth, for it is his footstool, and he is as closely present in earth as in heaven, neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King, and God is well known in her palaces. Nor shall you swear by your head (Matthew 5:36), because you cannot make one hair white or black, because even this, it is plain, is not yours but God's, the only disposer of all in heaven and earth. But let your speech, your conversation, your talk with one another, be yes, yes, no, no: a plain, serious affirming or denying (Matthew 5:37). For whatever is more than these comes from evil (Matthew 5:37). It is of the evil one. It proceeds from the devil, and is a mark of his children.
1771 text
But our Lord here absolutely forbids all common swearing, as well as false swearing: and shews the heinousness of both, by the same awful consideration, That every creature is God’s, and he is every where present, in all, and over all.
I say unto you, swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne. And therefore this is the same as to swear by him, who sitteth upon the circle of the heavens: nor by the earth: for it is his footstool; and he is as intimately present in earth as heaven: neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King, and God is well known in her palaces. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head; because thou canst not make one hair white or black: because even this, it is plain, is not thine but God’s, the sole disposer of all in heaven and earth. But let your communication, your conversation, your discourse with each other, be yea, yea; nay, nay: a bare, serious affirming or denying; for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil: ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ ἔστιν· is of the evil one; proceedeth from the devil and is a mark of his children.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 23 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:8-12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.