Matthew 5:33
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
The verse allows God's children, when it is necessary and they are lawfully called to testify, to solemnly call God to witness that what they say is true, and to do so is not forbidden. It was spoken in the Sermon on the Mount to the disciples and the gathered multitude in plain truths all could understand, teaching the principles of a kingdom of divine grace rather than earthly power and glory. It stands in a series where inherited human sayings are set against God's greater wisdom, restoring the law's true meaning from the distortions of tradition and confronting the self-righteous doctrines and practices built upon those traditions. Its demand reaches to the heart, requiring the spirit of the law within, complete obedience as Christ obeyed, and honesty that condemns unjust gain even in business. These sayings must be heard and done to do the Father's will and enter His kingdom, and practicing them plants divine principles in the heart and forms Christlike character firm as a house built upon a rock.
Sermon Setting and Form
Matthew 5:33 belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, delivered to the disciples and the gathered multitude. Its truths were spoken plainly and simply, so that even the poor and unlearned could understand them. Jesus spoke with authority and taught words of eternal life. In this sermon He teaches the principles that govern His kingdom of divine grace, rather than promising the earthly power and glory many Jews expected.
The verse belongs to a series in which Jesus refers to what people had been taught with a repeated introductory phrase. That series contrasts inherited, unstable human teachings with the greater and certain wisdom available from God, and human words are unstable and are not to be treated as exalted wisdom. In the surrounding passage of Matthew 5:21-48 Jesus teaches from Scripture rather than relying on the repeated sayings of human teachers. Dependence on such traditions can corrupt the mind, and the Old and New Testament Scriptures are to be searched for God's wisdom.
Law's Demand and Obedience
God's children are permitted, when it is necessary and they are lawfully called to testify, to solemnly call God as witness that what they say is true, and to do so is no violation of God's word. The verse belongs to Christ's unfolding of the law in its full reach, restoring its true meaning from the distortions imposed by human traditions, showing that the law is not a cold code of rigid demands but God's holy, just, and good standard of righteousness. That unfolding stood against the doctrines and practices of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees, challenging human traditions that were presented as God's commandments.
It sets forth the far-reaching principles of God's law, so that obedience means having its spirit in the heart, since the state of the heart regulates the life and character, and those who teach converts must impress these principles upon them or their labor is lost. In it Christ exposed how the Jewish people's failure to follow the light God had given separated them from Him and brought darkness upon them, while the law's requirements are reasonable and just, calling for perfect obedience to the will of God revealed through patriarchs and prophets. The law so explained requires complete obedience, kept as Christ kept God's commandments, and such obedience would shut out oppression, injustice, and corruption and bring love, harmony, and joy, whereas Christians who neglect duty to God and disobey dishonor Him and lead others to despise religion.
As part of the pure gospel given on the Mount, it holds up the law's holy standard as reaching business conduct and condemning unjust gain. It is part of Christ's teaching to be believed and practiced, and practicing what the chapter says develops Christlike character and plants divine principles in the heart. It is among Christ's sayings that must be heard and done in order to do the will of the Father in heaven and enter the kingdom of heaven, rather than merely addressing Him as Lord or prophesying and casting out devils and doing wonderful works in His name, and all should study these words for their own benefit so as to be like a wise man who built his house upon a rock, so that when rain descended and floods came and winds blew and beat upon that house it did not fall.