More than yes or no

There are times when Bible passages are not exactly clear.

One way to get a better understanding is to find passages that are related in meaning in some manner and reconcile them.

By reconcile, it is meant that whatever meaning is assigned to each of them should not contradict each other in any way.

Here we look at two sayings of Jesus, both in Matthew, in order to better understand what each is saying.

Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. [kjv]

εστω δε ο λογος υμων ναι ναι ου ου το δε περισσον τουτων εκ του πονηρου εστιν [gnt]

Jesus appears to say that your yes should be yes and your no should be no.

Matthew 5:37

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KJV: But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Greek: εστω δε ο λογος υμων ναι ναι ου ου το δε περισσον τουτων εκ του πονηρου εστιν

Latin: sit autem sermo vester est est non non quod autem his abundantius est a malo est

Wessex: Soðlice sye eowre spraece. hyt is. hit is. hyt nis. hyt nys. Soðlice gyf þaer mare beoð. þaet beoð of yfele.

Gothic: sijaiththan waurd izwar: ja, ja; ne, ne; ith thata managizo thaim us thamma ubilin ist.

Luther: Eure Rede aber sei: Ja, ja; nein, nein; was darüber ist, das ist vom Übel.

Russian: Но да будет слово ваше: да, да; нет, нет; а что сверх этого, то от лукавого.

What does this verse mean?

Does it mean to always give either a "yes" or "no" answer?
What does giving "more" than these mean?

Is there a better explanation of this verse?

Let us look at another part of Matthew where Jesus is asked to give a "yes" or "no" answer. We start a few verses earlier to provide context.

Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. [kjv]

τοτε πορευθεντες οι φαρισαιοι συμβουλιον ελαβον οπως αυτον παγιδευσωσιν εν λογω [gnt]

22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. [kjv]

We see a trap being set.

The Pharisees are not friends with the Herodians, but they need them as witnesses in their trap.

The Herodians are the agents of Caesar, collecting taxes, etc.

Matthew 22:15

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KJV: Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

Greek: τοτε πορευθεντες οι φαρισαιοι συμβουλιον ελαβον οπως αυτον παγιδευσωσιν εν λογω

Latin: tunc abeuntes Pharisaei consilium inierunt ut caperent eum in sermone

Matthew 22:16

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KJV: And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

Greek: και αποστελλουσιν αυτω τους μαθητας αυτων μετα των ηρωδιανων λεγοντες λεγοντας διδασκαλε οιδαμεν οτι αληθης ει και την οδον του θεου εν αληθεια διδασκεις και ου μελει σοι περι ουδενος ου γαρ βλεπεις εις προσωπον ανθρωπων

Matthew 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? [kjv]

ειπον ουν ημιν τι σοι δοκει εξεστιν δουναι κηνσον καισαρι η ου [gnt]

The trap is not sprung. They have devised a logical question to which they expect a "yes" or "no" answer.

Jesus says to let your "yes" be "yes" and your "no" be "no". Does that apply here? If not, why not?

Matthew 22:17

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KJV: Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

Greek: ειπε ειπον ουν ημιν τι σοι δοκει εξεστιν δουναι κηνσον καισαρι η ου

Matthew 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? [kjv]

γνους δε ο ιησους την πονηριαν αυτων ειπεν τι με πειραζετε υποκριται [gnt]

22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. [kjv]

επιδειξατε μοι το νομισμα του κηνσου οι δε προσηνεγκαν αυτω δηναριον [gnt]

22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? [kjv]

και λεγει αυτοις τινος η εικων αυτη και η επιγραφη [gnt]

Matthew 22:18

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KJV: But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Greek: γνους δε ο ιησους την πονηριαν αυτων ειπεν τι με πειραζετε υποκριται

Matthew 22:19

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KJV: Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

Greek: επιδειξατε μοι το νομισμα του κηνσου οι δε προσηνεγκαν αυτω δηναριον

Latin: ostendite mihi nomisma census at illi obtulerunt ei denarium

As an expert teacher, Jesus leads them step by step through the reasoning process so that any ambiguities would be resolved and not left to human interpretation.

The Latin word "census" ≈ "tribute, counting" and is the source of the English word "census".
The modern Greek word "νόμισμα" (NO-mee-sma) ≈ "currency, coin" and is the source of the English word "numismatics".

The ancient Greek word "δηναρίον" (thee-na-REE-on) ≈ "denarius, penny" was a word borrowed from the Latin word "denarius" ≈ "penny" for whom the tribute was destined.

The "den" in the Latin word, in turn, was related to the number "ten".

Matthew 22:20

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KJV: And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

Greek: και λεγει αυτοις τινος η εικων αυτη και η επιγραφη

Latin: et ait illis Iesus cuius est imago haec et suprascriptio

Jesus has them verify the image on the coin.

The modern Greek word "εικών" (ee-KON) ≈ "image" and is the source of the English word "icon".

Matthew 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. [kjv]

λεγουσιν καισαρος τοτε λεγει αυτοις αποδοτε ουν τα καισαρος καισαρι και τα του θεου τω θεω [gnt]

Matthew 22:21

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KJV: They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Greek: λεγουσιν αυτω καισαρος τοτε λεγει αυτοις αποδοτε ουν τα καισαρος καισαρι και τα του θεου τω θεω

Matthew 22:22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. [kjv]

και ακουσαντες εθαυμασαν και αφεντες αυτον απηλθαν [gnt]

Discussion question: Is this command of rendering a "yes" or "no" digital two-valued logic question or is there a realistic (reality) of a solution somewhere in the middle? Or could it be something else?

Discussion question: Do all questions have a simple "yes" or "no" answer?

Matthew 22:22

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KJV: When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Greek: και ακουσαντες εθαυμασαν και αφεντες αυτον απηλθον απηλθαν

Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. [kjv]

εστω δε ο λογος υμων ναι ναι ου ου το δε περισσον τουτων εκ του πονηρου εστιν [gnt]

Back to the original questions. What does Matthew 5:37 mean?

Does it mean to always give either a "yes" or "no" answer?
What does giving "more" than these mean?

Is there a better explanation of this verse?

Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? [kjv]

ελθοντων δε αυτων εις καφαρναουμ προσηλθον οι τα διδραχμα λαμβανοντες τω πετρω και ειπαν ο διδασκαλος υμων ου τελει τα διδραχμα [gnt]

What about a "yes" or "no" answer? Consider another part of Matthew involving the tribute money.

Matthew 17:24

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KJV: And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

Greek: ελθοντων δε αυτων εις καπερναουμ καφαρναουμ προσηλθον οι τα διδραχμα λαμβανοντες τω πετρω και ειπον ειπαν ο διδασκαλος υμων ου τελει τα διδραχμα

Matthew 17:25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? [kjv]

λεγει ναι και ελθοντα εις την οικιαν προεφθασεν αυτον ο ιησους λεγων τι σοι δοκει σιμων οι βασιλεις της γης απο τινων λαμβανουσιν τελη η κηνσον απο των υιων αυτων η απο των αλλοτριων [gnt]

Does Peter give a "yes" or "no" answer? How should he have answered?

Matthew 17:25

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KJV: He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Greek: λεγει ναι και οτε εισηλθεν ελθοντα εις την οικιαν προεφθασεν αυτον ο ιησους λεγων τι σοι δοκει σιμων οι βασιλεις της γης απο τινων λαμβανουσιν τελη η κηνσον απο των υιων αυτων η απο των αλλοτριων

Matthew 17:26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. [kjv]

What logic is Jesus using in the previous verse?

How does Jesus provide an answer? How does this relate to what Peter said?

Matthew 17:26

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KJV: Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Greek: λεγει αυτω ο πετρος ειποντος δε απο των αλλοτριων εφη αυτω ο ιησους αραγε ελευθεροι εισιν οι υιοι

Matthew 17:27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. [kjv]

Jesus does provide the tribute money.

There are creationists who go to great length to justify the above answer, find a type of fish in the area that might have a coin in the mouth, etc.

But at a higher level, what might Jesus be saying?

Matthew 17:27

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KJV: Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Greek: ινα δε μη σκανδαλισωμεν αυτους πορευθεις εις την θαλασσαν βαλε αγκιστρον και τον αναβαντα πρωτον ιχθυν αρον και ανοιξας το στομα αυτου ευρησεις στατηρα εκεινον λαβων δος αυτοις αντι εμου και σου