What did Jesus mean when He said, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” in Matthew 5:33–37? Does this passage prohibit Christians from making promises, taking oaths, swearing in court, or invoking God as a witness? In this biblical teaching, Sam Shamoun explains why Jesus’ words must be understood in their proper scriptural context.
Sam Shamoun argues that Jesus is using hyperbole—an intentionally extreme expression meant to emphasize the seriousness of sin. Christians bear the name of Jesus Christ, so breaking an oath made before God does more than damage their own credibility: it dishonors God and brings shame upon the Christian faith. The safest course is therefore to avoid careless oaths and make sure that every promise is fulfilled.
The discussion examines Romans 1:9, where Paul declares that God is his witness, and Revelation 10, where an angel raises his hand to heaven and swears by the One who lives forever. Sam Shamoun explains that if Matthew 5 were interpreted as an absolute prohibition against every oath, these passages would appear to contradict the teaching of Jesus.
Finally, Sam Shamoun compares this command with other examples of biblical hyperbole, including Jesus’ teaching about cutting off whatever causes us to sin and praying privately rather than seeking public praise. The central principle is clear: Christians must take drastic measures to avoid sin, hypocrisy, broken promises, and dishonoring the name of God.
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 Does Jesus forbid Christians from making promises?
0:49 What “Let your yes be yes” really means
1:21 How Christians can take God’s name in vain
2:24 Why breaking an oath dishonors God
3:20 Did Paul contradict Jesus in Romans 1:9?
4:15 The angel who swore an oath in Revelation 10
6:00 Jesus’ use of hyperbole explained
7:34 Did Jesus literally command us to cut off our hands?
9:28 Public prayer, hypocrisy, and drastic measures against sin
12:04 Can Christians swear on the Bible in court?
13:30 Why taking a truthful oath is not necessarily sinful
⚠️ Important Disclaimer
I am not Sam Shamoun. This channel edits and shares clips from his teachings with permission in order to make his content more accessible and help spread the Word of God. All credit for the teaching belongs to Sam Shamoun.
