Matthew 5:37

Translations

Modern

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

Traditional

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Literal

But let your word ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and ‘No,’ ‘No.’ And that which is more than these comes from the evil one.

Latin

Sit autem sermo vester, est, est: non, non: quod autem his abundantius est, a malo est.

Original

Greek

English

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

Notes

Matthew 5:33–37

Jesus explains the Old Testament's teachings on oaths (Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:2–4; Deuteronomy 23:21–23; Psalm 50:14; Zechariah 8:17).

The Pharisees had different levels of commitment for oaths. For example, oaths not mentioning God were less serious. Jesus teaches that everything connects to God. This includes heaven, earth, Jerusalem, my head (see also Matthew 23:16–22). So, breaking any oath disobeys God's command (see Exodus 20:7).

The main idea is to always be truthful. The teachings of Jesus make a disciple's simple "yes or no" as serious as an oath. Honest people do not need oaths (James 5:12).

Matthew 5:21–47

You have heard … But I tell you: Jesus contrasts his teachings to six misunderstandings of the law. Each example shows the surpassing righteousness of Jesus. Jesus reveals God's will, which contrasts with human traditions.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Biblical Law Faith and Good Deeds Vows to God

Events

Sermon on the Mountc. AD 28

Related verses

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
2 Corinthians 1:17–20
When I planned this, did I do it carelessly? Or do I make my plans by human standards, so as to say “Yes, yes” and also “No, no”?
John 8:44
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
Matthew 13:19
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
1 John 5:18
We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Matthew 13:38
The field is the world, and the good seed represents the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,
1 John 2:13
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.

Matthew 5:37

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