Matthew 5:33

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 {G3825}, ye have heard {G191} that {G3754} it hath been said {G4483} by them of old time {G744}, Thou shalt {G1964} not {G3756} forswear thyself {G1964}, but {G1161} shalt perform {G591} unto the Lord {G2962} thine {G4675} oaths {G3727}:

"Again, you have heard that our fathers were told, `Do not break your oath,' and `Keep your vows to ADONAI.'

Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’

Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

Matthew 5:33 is part of Jesus' profound Sermon on the Mount, where He systematically reinterprets and elevates the understanding of the Mosaic Law for His disciples. This verse introduces His teaching on the sanctity of oaths and the importance of truthfulness, building upon existing Jewish traditions.

Context

In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus frequently uses the phrase, "Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time," followed by His own corrective or deeper insight, "But I say unto you." Here, He addresses the conventional understanding of oaths, drawing from Old Testament commands such as Leviticus 19:12 (which forbids swearing falsely by God's name), Numbers 30:2 (on fulfilling vows to the Lord), and Deuteronomy 23:21 (which commands not delaying performance of vows). The general understanding among the Jewish people was that while one should not swear falsely, particularly by God's name, fulfilling sworn promises made to the Lord was paramount.

Key Themes

  • Integrity of Speech: The verse emphasizes the importance of keeping one's word, especially when an oath is involved. It highlights that promises made before God are sacred and binding.
  • Sanctity of Oaths: Jewish law and tradition placed great importance on oaths, particularly those made to the Lord. To "forswear thyself" meant to break a sworn promise, essentially committing perjury, which was a serious offense against God and a violation of one's covenant with Him.
  • Divine Accountability: The phrase "perform unto the Lord thine oaths" underscores that all vows, even those not explicitly made directly to God, are ultimately heard and judged by Him, as He is the ultimate witness to all commitments.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "forswear thyself" translates the Greek word epiorkeō (ἐπιορκέω), which specifically means "to swear falsely" or "to perjure oneself." It implies a deliberate act of breaking an oath or uttering a false oath. The command to "perform unto the Lord thine oaths" uses the Greek apodidōmi (ἀποδίδωμι) for "perform" or "fulfill," emphasizing the absolute necessity of repaying or carrying out one's solemn commitments made under oath (horkos).

Significance and Application

While Jesus goes on in Matthew 5:34-37 to challenge the very practice of making oaths, advocating for a simple "yes" or "no," this introductory verse sets the stage by affirming the existing high standard: if you make an oath, you absolutely must fulfill it. This teaching calls believers to a profound level of truthfulness and integrity in all their dealings. It reminds us that our words carry weight, and our promises, whether formal oaths or casual assurances, should always be trustworthy because they are spoken before God. This aligns with the wisdom found in James 5:12, which also urges against casual swearing and emphasizes that our "yes" should be "yes," and our "no," "no."

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 23:21

    When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

  • Leviticus 19:12

    And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I [am] the LORD.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:4

    ¶ When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for [he hath] no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:6

    Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it [was] an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

  • Deuteronomy 23:23

    That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; [even] a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

  • Psalms 76:11

    Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

  • Numbers 30:2

    If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

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