Matthew 5:33 - “Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4
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What does "Matthew 5:33" mean?
This verse in Matthew 5:33 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically his teachings on oaths. He is quoting, and referencing, Old Testament passages (Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4) that command people to keep their promises and vows made to God.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time..." This introduces Jesus' correction or reinterpretation of a traditional understanding. He acknowledges the existing teachings about vows in the Jewish tradition.
"'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,'..." This is the core principle from the Old Testament. It emphasizes two key points:
"You shall not make false vows": Don't lie or deceive when making promises or oaths to God. Don't make promises you don't intend to keep.
"but shall perform to the Lord your vows": You must fulfill any promises (vows) you do make to God. Vows were serious commitments.
"...Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4": These are the Old Testament references that support this principle.
In essence, the verse means:
Jesus is reminding his listeners that the Old Testament law stresses the importance of honesty and commitment when making vows to God. You are obligated to keep your promises.
Context within Matthew 5:
This verse is a setup for Jesus' next teaching in Matthew 5:34-37, where he takes this principle a step further. He argues against making vows at all, suggesting that followers should be so truthful and reliable in their everyday speech that no oaths are needed to guarantee their honesty. His point is that your "yes" should be yes and your "no" should be no. He seeks to establish a higher standard of integrity.
Matthew 5:33 - “Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4
What does "Matthew 5:33" mean?
This verse in Matthew 5:33 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, specifically his teachings on oaths. He is quoting, and referencing, Old Testament passages (Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4) that command people to keep their promises and vows made to God.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time..." This introduces Jesus' correction or reinterpretation of a traditional understanding. He acknowledges the existing teachings about vows in the Jewish tradition.
"'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,'..." This is the core principle from the Old Testament. It emphasizes two key points:
"You shall not make false vows": Don't lie or deceive when making promises or oaths to God. Don't make promises you don't intend to keep.
"but shall perform to the Lord your vows": You must fulfill any promises (vows) you do make to God. Vows were serious commitments.
"...Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4": These are the Old Testament references that support this principle.
In essence, the verse means:
Jesus is reminding his listeners that the Old Testament law stresses the importance of honesty and commitment when making vows to God. You are obligated to keep your promises.
Context within Matthew 5:
This verse is a setup for Jesus' next teaching in Matthew 5:34-37, where he takes this principle a step further. He argues against making vows at all, suggesting that followers should be so truthful and reliable in their everyday speech that no oaths are needed to guarantee their honesty. His point is that your "yes" should be yes and your "no" should be no. He seeks to establish a higher standard of integrity.