As Jesus continues to expose the heart behind the Law in the Sermon on the Mount, He now turns to something incredibly practical: our words. Specifically, Jesus teaches on oaths and emphasizes the importance of sincerity and truthfulness in what we say.
In a time when people swore by anything to prove their honesty, Jesus steps in and teaches on oaths: “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.”
“Just be truthful.”
This teaching in Matthew 5:33–37 is short, direct, and desperately needed today.
Who Is Jesus Speaking To?
Still addressing His disciples and the gathered crowd, Jesus confronts a deeply rooted practice. Religious leaders had created loopholes in oath-taking—swearing by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or even their own head to give weight to their promises. Jesus teaches on oaths to emphasize that truthfulness needs no such embellishments.
But the heart of the issue wasn’t about wording—it was about truthfulness.
What Jesus Said: Matthew 5:33–37 (NASB)
33 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin.”
What Happened?
Jesus exposes a culture of verbal manipulation.
People had learned to use oaths to make their words seem more believable—especially when they had no intention of keeping them. But Jesus goes to the heart of honesty and calls for radical simplicity when He teaches on oaths.
“Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no.”
Action Step: Evaluate your speech. Do you overpromise? Do you add qualifiers to seem more believable? Ask God to make your words trustworthy without embellishment.
Let Your Word Be Your Bond
Jesus isn’t saying you can never make a promise.
He’s saying that your everyday speech should be so reliable that oaths become unnecessary. Jesus teaches on oaths to emphasize a life of straightforwardness.
Imagine a world where Christians were known for:
- Keeping their word.
- Following through.
- Speaking truth without exaggeration or manipulation.
In 2025, that would stand out as radically different.
Action Step: This week, say less—but mean more. Don’t commit to what you can’t fulfill. Let your reliability be your reputation.
Mood of the Scene
Simple. Direct. Soul-piercing.
Jesus’ tone isn’t complex—it’s convicting.
He invites us out of the world of excuses and half-truths and into the light of clarity and trustworthiness.
Response from the People
Many in the crowd had likely been on both sides—making empty oaths and being hurt by broken ones.
Jesus offered a better way: a community marked by honesty, not loopholes.
This was (and still is) a radical call to countercultural character.
What This Means for Us in 2025
We live in a time of:
- Contractual fine print.
- Cancelled commitments.
- Politically correct vagueness.
- Social media posturing.
Jesus still calls us to something different—truth in simplicity.
When you say “yes,” mean it.
When you say “no,” stand by it.
And if you’re unsure, don’t pretend.
Ways to Practice Integrity in Speech:
- Be honest in texts, emails, and conversations—even if it’s uncomfortable.
- Don’t say “yes” to things to please people.
- Avoid spiritual-sounding phrases to cover insincerity.
- Keep promises—even small ones. They matter.
- Apologize when you miss the mark. That also builds trust.
Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, make me a person of integrity. Cleanse my heart from fear, manipulation, or the need to impress. Let my words reflect truth, humility, and clarity. Teach me to speak less and trust more. Let my “yes” be yes, and my “no” be no—for Your glory, not mine. Amen.
