Single lesson
Speaking Honestly
Matthew 5:33–37
Jesus teaches that honest speech should be plain and reliable. In these verses, he speaks about vows, swearing, and the kind of truthfulness that makes a simple yes or no matter.
Before you teach
This part of Matthew records Jesus teaching about what people had heard before and what he now says to them. In Matthew 5:33-37, he contrasts false vows and oath-making with direct, truthful speech before God, who is greater than heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and even our own heads.
Students will explain from Matthew 5:33-37 that Jesus teaches people to speak truthfully so that their yes means yes and their no means no.
Welcome: When words can be trusted
5 minAsk children to think of simple everyday promises such as saying they will share, help, or tidy up. Explain that Jesus teaches about truthful words. Today they will listen for what Jesus says about vows, swearing, and why a plain yes or no should be trusted. Write the lesson aim where everyone can see it.
Matthew 5:33, Matthew 5:37
Read and explain: What Jesus says about vows
7 minRead Matthew 5:33-37 slowly. Explain that Jesus mentions what people had heard about vows and then says, 'don’t swear at all'. Point out the examples: heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and your head. These verses show that people should not try to make their words sound stronger by swearing special oaths.
Matthew 5:33, Matthew 5:34, Matthew 5:35, Matthew 5:36
Discuss: Why these examples matter
6 minTalk about each example in the passage. Heaven is called God's throne, earth his footstool, and Jerusalem the city of the great King. A person's own head is also not fully under their control, because they cannot make one hair white or black. Jesus' teaching leads children to see God's greatness and their need for honest speech.
Matthew 5:34, Matthew 5:35, Matthew 5:36
Make and respond: Yes means yes
8 minChoose Matthew 5:37 as the key verse. Give a realistic example such as returning a borrowed pencil or admitting a mistake in a game. Invite children to decide what an honest yes or no would sound like. Then help them make a reminder card with the words, 'Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No.'
Matthew 5:37
Closing: Speak plainly before God
4 minReview the main teaching in one sentence: Jesus wants truthful speech. Ask children to repeat the key idea together, then name one place this week where they can speak honestly at home or school. Finish by reminding them that Jesus contrasts extra oath-making with clear, truthful words.
Matthew 5:34, Matthew 5:37
Questions to explore
In verse 33, what had people heard about vows?
Look for the two parts of the saying: not making false vows and performing vows to the Lord.
Matthew 5:33
What four examples does Jesus name when he says not to swear at all?
List each one exactly as the passage gives them: heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and your head.
Matthew 5:34, Matthew 5:35, Matthew 5:36
According to verse 37, what should our yes and no be like?
Use Jesus' exact words and notice that he warns against adding more than this.
Matthew 5:37
Make, think or respond
Yes and No Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Read Matthew 5:37 together and say the words aloud once as a group.
- Ask children to suggest one everyday situation where they need an honest answer, such as borrowing, sharing, or telling the truth about a mistake.
- Have each child make a small card that says, 'My Yes means Yes. My No means No.'
- Invite them to draw a simple symbol, such as a speech bubble or a tick, to help them remember truthful speech.
- Let volunteers explain where they could keep the card this week.
The card repeats Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:37 and helps children remember to use clear, truthful words.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, keep the discussion to one or two simple examples and have them trace or copy only the words 'Yes' and 'No' from Matthew 5:37.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to compare verse 33 with verse 37 and explain how Jesus moves from vows to everyday truthful speech.
An optional closing prayer
'Lord Jesus, please help us speak truthfully. Help our yes to mean yes and our no to mean no. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 5
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’
34 but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.
37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.