Matthew 5:37

Plain English Version

Look, just say what is properly true. When yes is the true answer, just say, ‘Yes.’ And when no is the true answer, just say, ‘No.’ The devil, the boss over the bad spirits, he tries to get you to say more than that, but don’t do it. Don’t say anything more to try to get people to believe you.”

Cross References

Matthew 13:38

That garden is like the world. The good food seeds are like the people that belong to God. The rubbish plant seeds are like the people that belong to the devil, the boss over the bad spirits.

Matthew 5:36

And don’t say, ‘by my head’, when you promise something. You can’t change the colour of even one hair on your head, to turn it black or turn it white.

Matthew 6:13

Don’t let anything push us to do bad things. And keep us safe from the devil, the boss over the bad spirits.’ ”

John 17:15

I am not asking you to take my followers away from the people that belong to this world. I am asking you to keep them safe from the devil, the boss over the bad spirits.

John 8:44

So, really, your father is the devil, the boss over the bad spirits, and you do anything he wants you to do. He was always a murderer and a liar, and nothing he says is true. Whenever he tells lies, he is just doing what he likes to do. All lies come from him. It is like he is the father of all lies.

Ephesians 4:25

You know, we all belong to Jesus, like each one of us is a part of his body. So don’t lie to each other. Only say the things that are true.

Ephesians 6:16

You know that a soldier always has a shield, to stop the spears that the enemy throws at him. In the same way, you have to always trust God. Whenever you do that, it is like you are holding up a shield that stops the things that the devil throws at you. They are like burning spears, but if you trust God, he will stop them and put them out. –

Colossians 3:9

Don’t lie to each other. You see, you believed in Jesus, and you stopped living that old way. You stopped doing bad things.

Colossians 4:6

And talk to them in a good way, to get them interested in your message. And be ready to answer their questions.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But Jesus, our leader, is always good to us, and he always does what he promised to do. He will help you to keep on trusting him strongly. He will keep you safe from that really bad one, the boss over the bad spirits, so that he can’t touch you.

James 5:12

And there is another thing that I want to say, my friends, and it is very important. Whenever you promise something, don’t say, “God is the boss over heaven and earth, and if I don’t do what I promise, he will punish me.” Don’t say anything like that. You see, if you say that, and then don’t do what you promised, then God will say that you are guilty. So just tell the true story. Say yes when that is true, or no when that is true, and don’t say anything more.