In keeping with Jesus’ use of rhetorical overstatement earlier in his sermon, 1 we should not understand his words to be a blanket ban on all oaths. Elsewhere in Scripture, God encourages his people to swear oaths in his name (Deuteronomy 10:20), and we have several positive examples of believers doing the same (see Genesis 14:22; Genesis 21:24; Genesis 47:31; Joshua 2:12; Numbers 5:19–22; Numbers 6:2). 2 Indeed, God himself also swears an oath when it will help his people to take seriously his promises (see Genesis 9:9–11; Psalm 16:10; Psalm 89:3; Psalm 110:4; Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 11:5; Luke 1:68; Hebrews 7:20–22, Hebrews 7:28). 3 The fact that the apostle Paul also calls on God to be a witness to the truth of his words (Romans 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 1:20; 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:10) is a final confirmation that oaths are not outlawed for the Christian. Certainly not when they are used to encourage truthfulness (see Hebrews 6:17). 4
34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,