Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 5:37

"But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil [one]." — Matthew 5:37 (ASV)

The Greek might better be translated “But let your word be, ‘Yes, Yes; No, No.’ ” The doubling is probably part of Jesus’ rhetoric. This saying is not, however, a ban on any and all oaths. God himself “swears” in Scripture (e.g., Genesis 9:9–11; Lk 1:68, 73; Hebrews 6:17), the earliest Christians took oaths (cf. Romans 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:23; et al.), and Jesus himself testified under oath (Matthew 26:63–64). It must be frankly admitted that here Jesus formally contravenes OT law: what it permits or commands (Dt. 6:13), he forbids. But if his interpretation of the direction in which the law points is authoritative, then his teaching fulfills it.