Matthew 5:34-36

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 5:33-37

We have here an exposition of the third commandment, which we are the more concerned right to understand, because it is particularly said, that God will not hold him guiltless, however he may hold himself, who breaks this commandment, by taking the name of the Lord in vain. Now as to this command, I. It is agreed on all hands that it forbids perjury, forswearing, and the violation of oaths and vows, Matt. 5:33. This was said to them of old time, and is the true intent and meaning of the third... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 5:1-48

As we have already seen, Matthew has a careful pattern in his gospel. In his story of the baptism of Jesus he shows us Jesus realizing that the hour has struck, that the call to action has come, and that Jesus must go forth on his crusade. In his story of the Temptations he shows us Jesus deliberately choosing the method he will use to carry out his task, and deliberately rejecting methods which he knew to be against the will of God. If a man sets his hand to a great task, he needs his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:34

But I say unto you, swear not at all ,.... Which must not be understood in the strictest sense, as though it was not lawful to take an oath upon any occasion, in an affair of moment, in a solemn serious manner, and in the name of God; which may be safely done: but of rash swearing, about trivial matters, and by the creatures; as appears by what follows, neither by heaven ; which is directly contrary to the Jewish canons F13 Misn. Shebuot, c. 4. sect. 13. , which say, "they that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:36

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head ,.... This also was a common form of swearing among the Jews: take a few instances. "If anyone is bound to his friend by an oath, and says to him, vow unto me בחיי ראשך , "by the life of thy head"; R. Meir says F21 Misn. Sanhedrim, c. 3. sect 2. , he may retract it; but the wise men say, he cannot.' Again F23 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 3. 1. , a certain Rabbi said to Elijah, "I heard "Bath Kol" (or the voice from heaven) mourning like a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:34-35

Neither by heaven, etc. - It was a custom among the Scythians, when they wished to bind themselves in the most solemn manner, to swear by the king's throne; and if the king was at any time sick, they believed it was occasioned by some one's having taken the oath falsely. Herod. l. iv. Who is there among the traders and people of this world who obey this law? A common swearer is constantly perjuring himself: such a person should never be trusted. When we make any promise contrary to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:36

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head - For these plain reasons: 1st. God commands thee not to do it. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 5:34

Verse 34 34.Swear not at all Many have been led by the phrase, not at all, to adopt the false notion, that every kind of swearing is condemned by Christ. Some good men have been driven to this extreme rigor by observing the unbridled licentiousness of swearing, which prevailed in the world. The Anabaptists, too, have blustered a great deal, on the ground, that Christ appears to give no liberty to swear on any occasion, because he commands, Swear not at all But we need not go beyond the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-48

The second part of the sermon: the mount of the Beatitudes and Mount Sinai: the new Law and the old. I. CHRIST THE FULFILLER OF THE LAW . 1 . He came not to destroy. They must not misunderstand the purpose of his teaching. The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; both speak of Christ. The commandments are as binding now upon the Christian conscience as when they were first delivered amid the thunders of Mount Sinai. "We establish the Law," says the apostle of faith ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 5:17-48

Sermon on the mount: 3. Exceeding righteousness. A teacher who compels the public to look at an unfamiliar truth, the reformer who introduces a new style of goodness, will be misinterpreted just in proportion to the advance he makes upon former ideas. Our Lord renounced explicitly, and with warmth, the goodness of the Pharisees, and the cry was at once raised against him as a destroyer of the Law, a libertine, a companion or' loose people. He thus found himself called on publicly to... read more

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