Abu Hurayrah (ra) Narrates;
The Messenger of Allah said: “Esa’ son of Maryam saw a man stealing and asked him, ‘Did you steal?’. He said ‘No, by Allah , besides whom there is no other God.’ So, Esa’ said, ‘I believe in Allah and contradict my eyes’. “

(Bukhari. Muslim)

 The Prophets (Alyahimus Salaam) have an exclusive and unique character and their lives are distinct amongst human beings. They are not like other men and are not daunted by emotions. They are also given to respect humanity and are willing to take over blame in order to save a man from sin.

Esa (alayhis salaam) was one of the glorious and high ranking prophets of Allah . He saw a man stealing. His own eyes had seen him steal and it is a greatness of the Prophets that when they see someone do a wrong they do not keep quiet about it. Hence, Esa (as) lived up to that standard and asked the man, ‘do you steal?’, that fellow replied, no i was not stealing by Him besides whom no one is worth worshipping.

So when he swore that he had not stolen, Esa (as) although he had seen him stealing with his own eyes, he confessed to the man ‘ I believe in Allah and contradict my eyes’, in other words, he held a good opinion about another muslim, that he would not take a false vow. He protected the man from disgrace. We know that the Prophets try to save a fellow man from disgrace and shame. It is not that Esa (as) could not distinguish between a liar and a truthful man, but he held the greatness of Allah ’s name very high in his eyes. It was wrong for him, therefore, to disagree with an oath on Allah , so he differed with the observance of his eyes.

This tells us that the Holy Prophets (as) are not supervisors over men and that they do not punish them for their faults, the One who sees them and is Watcher over them, who punishes them is Allah alone. One may swear a false oath, and save his skin in this world, but there is no escape from the punishment of Allah .