[CYM] 26.0 Keep Your Word, Do Not Swear

Yeshua taught that integrity in speech is a mark of true righteousness. In the Sermon on the Mount, He addresses the issue of oaths and emphasizes the importance of honest, straightforward communication.

In Matthew 5:33–37, Yeshua says:

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: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the Great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Here, Yeshua critiques the common practice of swearing oaths to affirm truthfulness. While Old Testament law permitted oaths (e.g., Numbers 30:2), many had begun using them deceptively, swearing by various things to avoid accountability.

Yeshua corrects this by calling for truthfulness without theatrics—our word should be trustworthy without needing extra affirmation.

In James 5:12, which echoes Yeshua’ teaching, believers are again told:

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Though the exact teaching appears explicitly in Matthew, the command of truthful speech runs through the scriptures. In John 8:44, Yeshua contrasts Himself with the devil, “the father of lies,” implying that followers of Christ must reflect God’s truthfulness. It says,

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

In Luke 6:45, Yeshua teaches that what we say reflects what’s in our hearts:

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Overall, Yeshua commands His disciples to speak with honesty, simplicity, and integrity, making every word reliable without the need for oaths.