Nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of God’s feet, nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.
In this passage Jesus continues his teaching about oaths, noting that people should not swear by the earth or by Jerusalem either. The earth is presented as the footstool of God’s feet, which means that it too is sacred and cannot be used as the basis of an oath. Jerusalem, as a symbol of God’s city, is also holy, since it is regarded as the city of the “great King,” God. Jesus points out that even things such as the earth or Jerusalem are closely connected with God, and therefore they cannot be used irresponsibly for scattering oaths. He calls his followers to speak the truth without spreading oaths, because an oath is a process of involving God’s holiness.