Matthew 5:35

35 μήτε ἐν τῇ γῇ, ὅτι ὑποπόδιόν ἐστιν τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ · μήτε εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, ὅτι πόλις ἐστὶν τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως ·

Matthew 5:35 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 5:35

Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool
That the Jews were wont to swear by the earth, is clear from the above mentioned instances; and is condemned by Christ for this reason, because the earth is God's "footstool", referring, as before, to ( Isaiah 66:1 ) on which he treads; and where he also manifests forth his glory, and is a considerable part of the work of his hands.

Neither by Jerusalem,
which the Jews used to swear by: such forms of vows as these are to be met with in their writings ^F17;

``as the altar, as the temple, (Mlvwryk) , "as Jerusalem";''

that is, by Jerusalem, I vow I will do this, or the other thing.

``R. Judah says, he that says Jerusalem (i.e. as Bartenora observes ^F18, without the note of comparison, as) says nothing.''

In the Gemara ^F19 it is,

``he that says as Jerusalem, does not say anything, till he has made his vow concerning a thing, which is offered up in Jerusalem.''

Dr. Lightfoot ^F20 has produced forms of vowing and swearing, which have not occurred to me.

``Jerusalem; (Mlvwryl) , "for", or "unto Jerusalem", which exactly answers to (eiv Ierosoluma) , here; and "by Jerusalem";''

The reason given for prohibiting this kind of oath, is;

for it is the city of the great king:
not of David, but of the King of kings, the Lord of hosts; who had his residence, and his worship, here; see ( Psalms 48:2 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F17 Misn. Nedarim, c. 1. sect. 3.
F18 In. ib.
F19 T. Bab. Nedarim, fol. 11. 1.
F20 In loc. ex Tosapht. in Nedarim, c. 1.

Matthew 5:35 In-Context

33 Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις · Οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις, ἀποδώσεις δὲ τῷ κυρίῳ τοὺς ὅρκους σου.

34 ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν μὴ ὀμόσαι ὅλως · μήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, ὅτι θρόνος ἐστὶν τοῦ θεοῦ ·

35 μήτε ἐν τῇ γῇ, ὅτι ὑποπόδιόν ἐστιν τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ · μήτε εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα, ὅτι πόλις ἐστὶν τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως ·

36 μήτε ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ σου ὀμόσῃς, ὅτι οὐ δύνασαι μίαν τρίχα λευκὴν ποιῆσαι ἢ μέλαιναν.

37 ἔστω δὲ ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν ναὶ ναί, οὒ οὔ · τὸ δὲ περισσὸν τούτων ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ ἐστιν.