What does this mean: “But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth for it is His footstool” (Matt. 5:34–35)?

His Grace Bishop Youannis tells the following story: “There was a man who lived in a tent in the desert. Some scientists used to go to this desert in search of monuments. When they reached this man’s tent, they heard him praying inside the tent and waited until he finished his prayers. Then they came forward to meet him. They told him, mockingly, ‘How do you know for sure there is a god who answers your prayers?’ He answered them, saying, ‘How did you know that a man visited me in my tent last night?’ They responded, ‘We came to know this by means of his footprints in the sand.’ He said, ‘I, too, know there is a God

1353 Numa Denis Fustel De Coulanges, The Ancient City: A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome (Kitchener: Batoche Books, 2001) 1.1: pp. 9–10. See Bishop Youannis of Gharbia, Heaven: An Orthodox Christian Perspective (Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii - St. Paul Brotherhood, 2021) Kindle Edition: loc. 297–302.

because I can see His prints everywhere.’ Yes, God leaves His traces around us in everything and in everyplace.”¹³⁵⁴

St. Paul says, “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world , His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Rom. 1:19–21).

St. Augustine takes these apostolic words to mean that God gifts the world to us for our use, but not for our selfish gratification; for through this world we see invisible things and cling to the spiritual and heavenly that we glimpsed in the material and temporal.¹³⁵⁵

St. Athanasius the Apostolic says, “God by His own Word gave the Universe the Order it has, in order that since He is by nature invisible, men might be enabled to know Him at any rate by His works. For often the artist even when not seen is known by his works.”¹³⁵⁶

St. John Chrysostom says, “The heavens may be silent, but the sight of them emits a voice, that is louder than a trumpet’s sound; instructing us not by the ear, but through the medium of the eyes; for the latter is a sense which is more sure and more distinct than the former.”¹³⁵⁷