Devine Scripture

Matthew 5:37

What does Matthew 5:37 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 5:37 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 5:37 means

Jesus provides the positive directive for speech, stating that His followers' communication should be characterized by simple affirmation or denial: "Yea, yea; Nay, nay." This means their word should always be their bond, requiring no oaths or external vows to validate its truthfulness. Anything beyond this straightforward, honest speech, Jesus declares, "is of the evil one," implying that such additions arise from a deceptive heart or a world where truth is suspect, contrasting with the absolute integrity of Kingdom citizens.

Matthew 5:37 in context

Matthew 5 — The Beatitudes

Jesus opens his Sermon on the Mount with eight pronouncements that turn the world's value system upside down. Blessing belongs not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. In a few sentences he sketches the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and then calls them salt of the earth and light of the world.

  • Kingdom ethics
  • Inner righteousness
  • True blessedness
  • Light and salt

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But let your words be simply, Yes or No: and whatever is more than these is of the Evil One.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

but let your word be, Yes, Yes, No, No, and that which is more than these is of the evil.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of evil.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But let your word be Yea, yea; Nay, nay; but what is more than these is from evil.

Context

This verse provides the definitive and practical summation of Jesus' teaching on oaths, directly following the examples of what not to swear by in verses 34-36. It establishes a clear standard for truthful and unadorned speech, essential for Kingdom righteousness, leading directly into His next reinterpretation regarding retaliation.

v.36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.

v.37This passage

v.38Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:3

    But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one.

  • Matthew 6:13

    And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

  • 1 John 5:18

    We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not.

  • Colossians 3:9

    lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,

  • 2 Corinthians 1:17

    When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?

  • 1 John 2:13

    I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father.

Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:37

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Matthew 5:37 teaches us about kingdom ethics

  • What Matthew 5:37 teaches us about inner righteousness

  • What Matthew 5:37 teaches us about true blessedness

  • What Matthew 5:37 teaches us about light and salt

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