Jesus teaches that Christians should avoid meaningless or abusive oaths, as truthfulness should come from the sincerity of one's heart rather than any oath. While God instituted oaths and Jesus and Paul took oaths when needed, the focus should be on simply telling the truth in all situations through having a truthful heart, rather than invoking oaths to try to add weight to one's statements. Christians are free to take oaths when properly needed, but the emphasis is on cultivating truthfulness through one's character rather than any verbal formula.

1. Matthew 5:33-37
By Jory Leong

2. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Matt 5:33-37
Matt 5:21-22
Matt 5:43-48
Matt 7:21-23
Swearing oaths
Speech
Love your enemies
True or false disciples

4. Matthew 5:33-37

5. Matthew 5:33-37
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the
people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but
fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I
tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by
heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth,
for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the
city of the Great King. And do not swear by your
head, for you cannot make even one hair white
or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or
‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil
one.”

6. What is an Oath?
Formal version
of a promise
In Biblical times, oaths are solemn
declarations that invoke God as a witness
of one’s statements & promises

7. Matthew 5:33-37
The Question Can Christians make an
oath?
The Teaching What is Jesus saying?
The Lesson
What’s the application?

8. The Question:
Can Christians make an oath?
Matthew 5:34
“But I tell you, do
not swear an oath
at all..”

9. Christians can make an oath
because…
• God instituted & swear oaths
Numbers 30
Hebrews 6:13
Acts 2:30
Psalm 110:4

10. Christians can make an oath
because…
• God instituted & swear oaths
• Jesus testified under oath
Matthew 26:63

11. Christians can make an oath
because…
• God instituted & swear oaths
• Jesus testified under oath
• Paul swore oaths
Romans 1:9-10
2 Corinthians 1:23
Galatians 1:20
Philippians 1:8
1 Thessalonians 2:5

12. Christians can make an oath
because…
• God instituted & swear oaths
• Jesus testified under oath
• Paul swore oaths

13. The Teaching:
What is Jesus saying?
• Oath-taking part of Greek & Roman culture
• If an oath didn’t expressly invoke the name
of God, it didn’t matter
• Jesus said don’t swear an oath
by heaven – God’s throne
 by earth – God’s stool
 by Jerusalem – city of the Great King
 by your head – God is sovereign


14. I, Barack Hussein
Obama, do
solemnly swear
that I will
faithfully execute
the Office of
President of the
United States …

15. I, Barack Hussein
Obama, do
solemnly swear
that I will execute
the Office of
President of the
United States
faithfully …

19. The Teaching:
What is Jesus saying?
Jesus wasn’t
prohibiting the
taking of all
oaths, but the
misuse of oaths

20. “Jesus wasn’t
addressing whether or
not we should take
an oath. He was
talking about
whether or not we
are truthful…. We
don’t tell the truth
because we have
taken an oath; we
tell the truth because
we are truthful.”

21. The Lesson:
What’s the application?

23. “Heart is used in
Scripture as the
most comprehensive
term for the
authentic person. It
is the part of our
being where we
desire, deliberate,
and decide.….
The place to which
God turns.”

25. 一
Once a
sentence
goes out
言
既
出
it cannot
be
overtaken
by a
chariot
with 4
horses
驷
马
难
追

26. Matthew 5:33-37
The Question: Can
Christians make an
oath?
Yes, because God
the Father, Christ &
Paul swore oaths
The Teaching: What
is Jesus saying?
Don’t abuse oaths
Speak the truth
The Lesson: What’s the
application?
Matter of the Heart