Oaths before a magistrate
Our Lord does not here forbid swearing in judgment and truth, when we are required to do so by a magistrate. This may appear, first, from the occasion of this part of his discourse, the abuse he was reproving, which was false swearing and common swearing. Swearing before a magistrate was quite out of the question. Second, from the very words in which he forms the general conclusion: Let your speech, or conversation, be yes, yes, no, no. Third, from his own example, for he himself answered on oath when required by a magistrate. When the high priest said to him, I charge you by the living God (Matthew 26:63) to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus immediately answered in the affirmative, You have said, that is, the truth. Moreover, I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64). Fourth, from the example of God, even the Father, who, wanting to show more fully to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, confirmed it by an oath (Hebrews 6:17). Fifth, from the example of Saint Paul, who we think had the Spirit of God and well understood the mind of his Master. God is my witness, he says to the Romans (Romans 1:9), that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. To the Corinthians, I call God as witness against my soul (2 Corinthians 1:23) that to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth. And to the Philippians, God is my witness how greatly I long for you (Philippians 1:8), in the affection of Jesus Christ. From this it undeniably appears that if the apostle knew the meaning of his Lord's words, they do not forbid swearing on weighty occasions, even to one another, much less before a magistrate. And last, from that statement of the great apostle about solemn swearing in general, which it is impossible he could have mentioned without any touch of blame if his Lord had totally forbidden it: People swear by the greater, by one greater than themselves, and an oath for confirmation is to them the end of all dispute (Hebrews 6:16).
1771 text
10. That our Lord does not here forbid, the swearing in judgment and truth, when we are required so to do by a magistrate, may appear, 1. From the occasion of this part of his discourse, the abuse he was here reproving, which was false swearing and common swearing; the swearing before a magistrate being quite out of the question. 2. From the very words wherein he forms the general conclusion, Let your communication, or discourse, be yea, yea; nay, nay. 3. From his own example; for he answered himself upon oath, when required by a magistrate. When the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us, whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God? Jesus immediately answered in the affirmative, Thou hast said (i.e. the truth). Nevertheless (or rather, Moreover) I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 4. From the example of God, even the Father, who willing the more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath. 5. From the example of St. Paul, who, we think had the Spirit of God, and well understood the mind of his master. God is my witness, saith he, to the Romans, that without ceasing, I make mention of you always in my prayers: to the Corinthians, I call God to record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth: and to the Philippians. God is my record, how greatly I long after you, in the bowels of Jesus Christ. (Hence it undeniably appears, that if the apostle knew the meaning of his Lord’s words, they do not forbid swearing on weighty occasions, even to one another: how much less before a magistrate?) And lastly, from that assertion of the great apostle, concerning solemn swearing in general, (which it is impossible he could have mentioned without any touch of blame, if his Lord had totally forbidden it) Men verily swear by the greater, (by one greater than themselves) and an oath for confirmation is to them the end of all strife.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 23 in the 1771 Works. Matthew 5:8-12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.