Do Not Swear at All

FROM THE QUESTION BOX: Please explain Mt. 5:33-37. Does this mean Christians cannot swear an oath, even in a court of law?

      There are some who take this reference and a similar one in James 5:12 to mean that one cannot swear an oath of any kind at any time, even in a court of law. But there is a great deal more to the question than what is stated in these references. First of all, note that swearing an oath was permitted under the Old Testament Law. “Take oaths in His name (the Lord your God) Deut. 6:130. Num. 30:2 “If a man swears an oath...he must not break his word” (Num. 30:2). You shall not swear by my name falsely” (Lev. 19:12). Now notice Deut. 23:21-23. When you make a vow to the Lord your God, it will be a sin if you do not pay it. If you abstain from vowing, it will not be a sin to you. You must do what you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God, what you have promised with your own mouth. But do these Old Testament references have any bearing upon the Christian’s life?

      Some would say nothing has changed, claiming that the Old Law is still present because Jesus would not destroy it (see Mt. 5:17).  Did Jesus destroy or abolish the Old Law?  He said he came to fulfill it. Some parts he did set aside and replace under the NT gospel, but some things he only reinforced. When he had fulfilled it, or better said, when it had been fulfilled in all that it was designed to do, it was taken away and replaced with the new law of the gospel (Gal. 3:24-25, Heb. 10:9). Any parts of the Law that carry over into the NT will be noted somewhere, and any parts not carried over by the Lord must not be accepted as binding today. So the question becomes, not was swearing an oath ever permitted, but is it permitted under the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Did Jesus forbid the swearing of any oath or taking any vow in any form under any and all circumstances – either in civil court, in private transactions, or in the church?

      If so, it is strange that he himself violated that principle. In Mt. 26:63 he was placed under oath to tell the truth to the high priest. “I adjure you” is the same as “I put you under oath...”  To say, “Do you swear to tell the truth, etc.” is equivalent. Now here’s the point: Jesus accepted being placed under oath. In effect he swore by the living God that he was telling the truth about himself. Some will say Jesus was still under the Old Law and therefore it was not wrong for him to swear an oath, but when the NT became effective it would no longer be permitted. But there are other examples which obviously fall under the NT and not the OT.

      Some of Paul’s statements are equivalent to swearing or taking an oath, even though the wording may not be the same as we are accustomed to. 2 Cor. 1:23, Gal. 1:20, and Phil. 1:8. He called God as witness to the truthfulness of his words. Did he sin in swearing in this way? God himself swore by himself, sealing His own words with an oath. Heb. 6:16-18 and 7:20-21. Compare Acts 2:30, where Peter makes reference to the same thing.

      The Jews had become experts in making vows, oaths, pledges, and promises that were invalid, meaningless, and worthless. They would not swear by God, because lying under oath or breaking one’s word when given in the name of God was considered blasphemy, taking God’s name in vain. So they swore by heaven, by the temple, by their own head, etc. It had become a tradition that set aside and made void the word of God. Mark 7:9-13, Mt. 23:16-22

      When Jesus said, “Swear not at all,” he clarified his meaning by saying ,”Yes or no should be enough. If it one’s word is given, it should be enough. If it isn’t, swearing an oath will not make the word any more dependable. If one will not tell the truth without swearing an oath, he is of the evil one, and evil will certainly come of it. James 5:12 is parallel in thought and  intent to this.

      Lying under oath is perjury, punishable by law. Some witnesses are so untrustworthy – some think nothing of lying at any time, even lying when they have sworn to tell the truth – that they must be put under oath in order to punish them properly if they perjure themselves. If a Christian is forced to swear an oath, whether stated in the usual form or stated mildly and euphemistically as promise, affirmation, or pledge – or if, like Paul, he says, “As God is my witness...”  he can take the oath, and tell the truth. But for the Christian swearing an oath is no more binding than yes or no. Yes means yes and no means no whether or not you swear to it.