Matthew 5:35 (WEB)
nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Catechism · 1
“Going further, Christ asks his disciples to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 5:22-39; 5:44.
Fathers and councils · 23
Irenaeus of Lyons
“Further, also, concerning Jerusalem and the Lord, they venture to assert that, if it had been “the city of the great King,” it would not have been deserted.” — editor's note: Matt. v. 35.
Read the whole comment“…there is one King and Lord, the Father of all, of whom He had previously said, “Neither shalt thou swear by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King;” and that He had from the beginning prepared the marriage for His Son, and used, with the utmost kindness, to call, by the instrumentality of His servants, the…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 35. Instead of placing a period here, as the editors do, it seems to us preferable to carry on the construction.
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Origen
- Origen, De Principiis II.4Book II
“…down respecting oaths, saying that we ought not to “swear either by heaven, because it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, because it is His footstool,” harmonize most clearly with the words of the prophet, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool?”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 34, 35.
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John Chrysostom
“Thus, both when He was speaking of Jerusalem, He called it “the city of the Great King;”and when He mentioned Heaven, He spake of it again as “God’s throne;”and when He was discoursing of His economy in the world, to Him again He attributes it all,…” — editor's note: Matt. v. 35.
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Jerome
“Since, therefore, the evangelists and all the Scriptures speak of Jerusalem as the holy city, and since the psalmist commands us to worship the Lord “at his footstool;” allow no one to call it Sodom and Egypt, for by it the Lord forbids men to swear because “it is the city of the great king.”” — editor's note: Matt. v. 35.
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Tertullian
“In the next place proceeding to mendacity, the minister of covetousness (of false swearing I am silent, since even swearing is not lawful)—is trade adapted for a servant of God?” — editor's note: Matt. v. 34–37; Jas. v. 12.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…passage our Lord also bears testimony, when He says, “Swear not at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool,”—what wonder if the devil, being placed on earth, stood before the feet of God, and spoke something in His presence?” — editor's note: Matt. v. 34, 35.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“But let your discourse be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: (for whatever is fuller than these is of evil.”)” — editor's note: Matt. v. 34–37. All these passages are wanting in the Oxford text; [also in ed. Paris, 1574].
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord has hitherto taught to abstain from injuring our neighbour, forbidding anger with murder, lust with adultery, and the putting away a wife with a bill of divorce. He now proceeds to teach to abstain from…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
This was allowed under the Law, as to children; as they offered sacrifice to God, that they might not do it to idols, so they were permitted to swear by God; not that the thing was right, but that it were better done…
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
For no man can swear often, but he must sometimes forswear himself; as he who has a custom of much speaking will sometimes speak foolishly.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Inasmuch as the sin of perjury is a grievous sin, he must be further removed from it who uses no oath, than he who is ready to swear on every occasion, and the Lord would rather that we should not swear and keep…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
This precept also confirms the righteousness of the Pharisees, not to forswear; inasmuch as he who swears not at all cannot forswear himself. But as to call God to witness is to swear, does not the Apostle break this…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
But what we could not understand by mere words, from the conduct of the saints we may gather in what sense should be understood what might easily be drawn the contrary way, unless explained by example. The Apostle…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Therefore in his writings, as writing allows of greater circumspection, the Apostle is found to have used an oath in several places, that none might suppose that there is any direct sin in swearing what is true; but…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
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…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or; It is added, “By the Heaven, &c.” because the Jews did not consider themselves bound when they swore by such things. As if He had said, When you swear by the Heaven and the Earth, think not that you do not owe…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Note how He exalts the elements of the world, not from their own nature, but from the respect which they have to God, so that there is opened no occasion of idolatry.
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Having forbidden swearing, He instructs us how we ought to speak, “Let your speech be yea, yea; nay, nay.” That is, to affirm any thing it is sufficient to say, ‘It is so;’ to deny, to say, ‘It is not so.’ Or, “yea,…
Read the whole comment - Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; They who live in the simplicity of the faith have not need to swear, with them ever, what is is, what is not is not; by this their life and their conversation are ever preserved in truth.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Therefore Evangelic verity does not admit an oath, since the whole discourse of the faithful is instead of an oath.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
And he who has learned that an oath is to be reckoned not among things good, but among things necessary, will restrain himself as much as he may, not to use an oath without necessity, unless he sees men loth to…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Or; “of evil,” that is, from their weakness to whom the Law permitted the use of an oath. Not that by this the old Law is signified to be from the Devil, but He leads us from the old imperfection to the new abundance.
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Cross-references · 14
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in On Idolatry Chapter 11.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.13.
Cited together in Glossa Ordinaria on Matthew 5:33–37 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews III.13.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.
Cited together in Against Heresies IV.4.