Matthew 5:33-37

[utica]

I’ve recently been engaged in a fruiful dialogue with a Quaker.

Many Quakers do not swear oaths, and point to Matthew 5:33-37 as their biblical foundation for this belief.

5:33. Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.
5:34. But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven for it is the throne of God:
5:35. Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:
5:36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
5:37. But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

Can someone help me understand the development of Sacred Tradition that then allowed us to swear oaths?

 

[Nita]

I’ve recently been engaged in a fruiful dialogue with a Quaker.

Many Quakers do not swear oaths, and point to Matthew 5:33-37 as their biblical foundation for this belief.

5:33. Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.
5:34. But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven for it is the throne of God:
5:35. Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:
5:36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
5:37. But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

Can someone help me understand the development of Sacred Tradition that then allowed us to swear oaths?

Thanks for bringing this Scripture passage up Utica. It’s one I guess I just usually slip past.

One of the first things I wondered about was just what forswear and swear meant back in our Lord’s day. With forswear, I had to look in the dictionary just to see what it still means today.

Here’s a quote by St. Jerome (taken from Aquinas’ Catena Aurea):

Lastly, consider that the Saviour does not here forbid to swear by God, but by the Heaven, the Earth, by Jerusalem, by a man’s head. For this evil practice of swearing by the elements the Jews had always, and are thereof often accused in the prophetic writings. For he who swears, shows either reverence or love for that by which he swears. Thus when the Jews swore by the Angels, by the city of Jerusalem, by the temple and the elements, they paid to the creature the honour and worship belonging to God; for it is commanded in the Law that we should not swear but by the Lord our God.
(eg Deut 6:13 You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him, and swear by his name. )

 

[Nita]

Here’s a little different commentary taken from the Geo Haydock Bible notes:

*Ver. 34. Swear not at all. We must not imagine that here are forbidden all oaths, where there is a just and necessary cause of calling God to witness. An oath on such an occasion is an act of justice and religion. Here are forbidden unnecessary oaths in common discourse, by which the sacred name of God, which never ought to be pronounced without reverence and respect, is so frequently and scandalously profaned. (Witham) — 'Tis not forbidden to swear in truth, justice and judgment; to the honour of God, or our own or neighbour’s just defence; but only to swear rashly, or profanely, in common discourse, and without necessity. (Challoner)

Ver. 35. The Anabaptists and other sectarists, following the letter, and not the spirit of the Scripture, and walking in the footsteps of their predecessors, the Waldenses, and the Pelagians, will allow of no oath to be lawful, not even before a judge. (Bristow)*

The Geo Haydock is a good source for Catholic Commentary. You can get it at this website:

haydock1859.tripod.com

The NT is all online, but the OT is not yet complete.

Nita

 

[Nita]

Another post!!! This should be the last.

The Church Fathers on the New Advent website www.newadvent.org often have commentary on Scripture. Here’s a link to St. John Chrysostom’s commentary on that passage (scroll about halfway down the page to “5.”;

newadvent.org/fathers/200117.htm

As you can see from the posts, there have been differing interpretations of the passage’s meaning.

Nita

 

[utica]

Aquinas - Lastly, consider that the Saviour does not here forbid to swear by God, but by the Heaven, the Earth, by Jerusalem, by a man’s head.

Excellent references! Thank you, Nita.

I will work through the Chrysostom commentary. Very good stuff.

 

[jimmy]

I’ve recently been engaged in a fruiful dialogue with a Quaker.

Many Quakers do not swear oaths, and point to Matthew 5:33-37 as their biblical foundation for this belief.

5:33. Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord.

5:34. But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven for it is the throne of God:

5:35. Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king:

5:36. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

5:37. But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

Can someone help me understand the development of Sacred Tradition that then allowed us to swear oaths?

I don’t think this passage is referring to a courtroom situation. What it is referring to is private situations. You are not to swear oaths because you are to be honest and truthful. There should be no reason for you to swear an oath because your integrity should not be even questionable. Simply tell the truth as it is. If the answer is yes then say yes, if it is no then say no. In all situations be honest.