Matthew 5:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

NIV: And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

NASB: Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

CSB: Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black.

NLT: Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black.

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

NKJV: Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

At the time Jesus gave this teaching, oaths were being used—and abused—in many situations. The oaths in question were not formal agreements, such as contracts, courtrooms, or a marriage. What Jesus condemns here are the casual oaths people make to add weight to a promise. In modern times, people might say something like "I swear, I'm telling the truth." That kind of oath misunderstands God's intent, which is for honest communication (Matthew 5:37). It's also subject to deception.

Some people in Jesus' era may have avoided swearing oaths by the Lord, since the consequences of not following through on those oaths for any reason were understood to be harsh (Numbers 30:2). However, the religious leaders apparently allowed for swearing oaths on other things, as a way of cementing agreements. So, someone might say, "I swear by heaven and earth that I will do this thing."

Jesus says this is wrong. Swearing by anything that belongs to God or is under His control comes too close to swearing by the Lord. He has described heaven as God's throne, earth as His footstool, and Jerusalem as His city. Swearing an oath by what He owns is just a substitute for swearing by the Lord Himself. It is a dangerous practice.

Now Jesus takes this prohibition even further. He tells them not to take an oath even by their own heads. This might be the equivalent to saying something like, "I swear by my life that I will do this." Or, "I swear by my eyes that I will do that." Jesus, though, points out that humans don't even have control over the color of the hair on their heads. Our heads belong to God, as well.

He drives the point home in the following verse: Christians ought to be known for honesty, such that their simple word is good enough (Matthew 5:37).

Matthew 5:33–37 continues a theme Jesus has been expanding in the Sermon on the Mount. The difference between righteousness and sin is not just a matter of following rules. It starts in the human heart. Here, Jesus attacks another way in which hypocrites would twist and abuse religious teachings. When Jesus speaks against swearing oaths, he's not referring to serious, formal commitments like marriage or a courtroom witness. He's condemning those who use the language of oaths to disguise dishonest intentions.

The Sermon on the Mount contains some of Jesus' most challenging teaching. It begins with the unlikely blessings of the Beatitudes. Jesus' disciples must do good works in order to be a powerful influence: as the salt of the earth and light of the world. The superficial righteousness of the Pharisees is not good enough to earn heaven. Sins of the heart, such as angry insults and intentional lust, are worthy of hell just as much as adultery and murder. Easy divorce and deceptive oaths are forbidden. Believers should not seek revenge. Instead, God intends us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. In short, we should strive to be perfect, as God is perfect.

Matthew 5 follows Matthew's description of the enormous crowds that were following Jesus (Matthew 4:25). One day, Jesus sits down on a hill to teach them, in an address we now call the Sermon on the Mount. He describes as blessed those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, and who are persecuted. Christ also explains how God's standards of righteousness go far beyond behaviors and speech; they also include our thoughts and attitudes. Meeting God's standards means perfection. Chapter 6 continues this sermon, with more examples of Jesus clarifying God's intent for godly living.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.