Matthew 5:36 , 37

"Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your speech be, Yea, yea; No, no: and whatsoever is more than these is of misery-gushing."

Jesus embraces what could be called the Minimalist Theory of Morality.  Rather than recommending the elaborate oaths common to the middle eastern culture of his day, Jesus instructs us to keep it simple. The best way to communicate one's integrity is to simply affirm with one word...and then do it.

The Etymological New Testament notes the problem with any further speech, "...and whatsoever is more than these is of misery-gushing."  Shakespeare would later write, Methinks thou dost protest too loudly.  Jesus identifies the source of extraneous affirmation: "misery-gushing."  Typically translated "evil", this Greek expression is a two-part word from "misery" and "to gush."  As we see too often among our political leadership (and religious institutions), when they wish to obscure they multiply words.  Let's embrace the minimalist idea and "swear not at all", even if a court asks us to do so.  Our yes or no will mean just that.