Matthew 23:22

22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon *.

Matthew 23:22 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:22

And he that shall swear by heaven
As the Jews were wont to do in common, but did not look upon such an oath as obligatory on them; (See Gill on Matthew 5:34), though such an one

sweareth by the throne of God;
for heaven is God's throne, where he sits, and, in an eminent manner, displays the glory of his majesty:

and by him that sitteth thereon,
by God himself. Thus swearing by anything that has any relation to God, is implicitly swearing by him; and therefore ought to be considered as binding, as if he was expressed in it; since an appeal cannot be made to things inanimate, nor indeed to any creature, but to God, the searcher of hearts.

Matthew 23:22 In-Context

20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon .

21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. #rl

22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon .

23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment , mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done , and not to leave the other undone .

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.