Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Don't swear by the earth either, that's literally God's footstool. And don't swear by Jerusalem, that's the great King's city.
Everything belongs to God, so there's nowhere to swear that doesn't involve him.
📚 Historical Context
In the first century, Jewish people commonly swore oaths by elements like heaven, earth, or Jerusalem to add weight to their promises, reflecting a cultural practice rooted in the Old Testament. Jesus, during His Sermon on the Mount, was challenging this habit to emphasize that all creation belongs to God, making such oaths unnecessary and potentially disrespectful. This verse specifically highlights the earth as God's footstool and Jerusalem as the city of the great King, underscoring divine ownership over all things.
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