But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these comes from evil.
All Commentaries on Matthew 5:37 Go To Matthew 5
John Chrysostom
AD 407
For no man can swear often, but he must sometimes forswear himself; as he who has a custom of much speaking will sometimes speak foolishly.
Note how He exalts the elements of the world, not from their own nature, but from the respect which they have to God, so that there is opened no occasion of idolatry.
Or; “of evil,” that is, from their weakness to whom the Law permitted the use of an oath. Not that by this the old Law is signified to be from the Devil, but He leads us from the old imperfection to the new abundance.
