Matthew 5:33-37

Tell the Truth

33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, ^[a] You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. ^[b]

34 But I tell you, don't take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God's throne;

35 or by the earth, because it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

36 Neither should you swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

37 But let your word 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no' be 'no.' ^[c] Anything more than this is from the evil one.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit to the ancients
• [b]. Lv 19:12; Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21
• [c]. Say what you mean and mean what you say