Matthew 23:22

22 and he who did swear by the heaven, doth swear by the throne of God, and by Him who is sitting 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 `He therefore who did swear by the altar, doth swear by it, and by all things on it;

21 and he who did swear by the sanctuary, doth swear by it, and by Him who is dwelling in it

22 and he who did swear by the heaven, doth swear by the throne of God, and by Him who is sitting upon it.

23 `Wo to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye give tithe of the mint, and the dill, and the cumin, and did neglect the weightier things of the Law -- the judgment, and the kindness, and the faith; these it behoved [you] to do, and those not to neglect.

24 `Blind guides! who are straining out the gnat, and the camel are swallowing.