Matthew 23:22

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

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 Whoever therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things upon it.

21 And whoever shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth in it

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

23 Woe to 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 ye ought to have done, and not to leave the others undone.

24 [Ye] blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel.