12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.



Ver. 12. But above all things] Swear not in jest, lest ye go to hell in earnest. {See Trapp on "Mat_5:34"} {See Trapp on "Mat_5:35"} {See Trapp on "Mat_23:16"} {See Trapp on "Mat_23:18"} Swear not in your passion (the apostle is here exhorting them to patience) as the Jews did ordinarily, and, so it were by the creature, held it no great sin, Mat_5:33; Mat_23:16. The swearer rends and tears God’s name as a draper rasheth out a piece of cloth to the buyer. He makes his tongue a grenado to shoot out oaths and blasphemies sgainst heaven. He shall one day smart for it in his tongue as Dives did, and be worse punished than the French were in the days of Louis XI, who punished swearing by searing the lips of the swearer with a hot iron.