Matthew 5:33-37 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King… Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’, ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
The Law says we are not to give false testimony against our neighbor. This ensured that the accused would receive a fair and impartial trial. The Pharisees mixed it up again. Although there was no distinction as to where this should be done, the Pharisees distorted the intent of the commandment. They attached a formula or style to the vow that made it breakable. If the vow did not include the divine name of God then it was breakable or non-binding. This was the easy way out for lying.
There is nothing that can be sworn to that is not under the rule of God. The heavens, the earth, every city and every person are known and seen by Him. To swear to anything is to make a vow with God. All our pledges or promises are within His view. A Christian is aware of God's presence at all times and in all places.
This is why Jesus said "let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’. Both the civil and judicial courts are no place where special oaths are to be made or broken. The courts are God's extension of His rule among mankind. Christians are to make no distinction in their swearing here. The elaborate formulas of some people are simply an admission of dishonesty. Since they deny God's all-knowing nature and they attempt to conceal false motives before man and lie to accomplish it.
Christians acknowledge the presence of God in their simple statements of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Then as we live up to what we have said we find others able to trust us and our integrity developing. Integrity so made honors God and honors the people we associate with. Then we also find the world more open to listen to our message of faith and hope in our living God.
