Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 09.09.2000
Convincing doesn´t swear
Swearing is used in connection with both past and future. When somebody tells about his experiences an oath can be demanded to confirm that he is telling the truth. This is done for example in court. When it is wanted to make sure that a person keeps his promise an oath is demanded. This happens for example in the army.
Why does Jesus forbid an oath?
Jesus Christ says: "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago: 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you: Do not swear at all." Matth.5:33-34 One who is reliable tells always the truth. If someone must try to assure or to swear that one tells the truth, the reason is that one is not trusted. Swearing is one way to react upon mistrust. Jesus forbids an oath because it "comes from the evil one". "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes', and your 'No', 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one'." Matth.5:37
Ambiguous people like to give oaths. "Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, 'Yes, yes' and 'No, no'?" 2Cor.1:17 To tell lies in certain circumstances is an accepted habit in this world. People often speak in different ways about the same issue to different people. In this way their speaking can be at the same time as well 'Yes' as 'No'. In court they want to make sure with an oath that now we do not lie as we normally do. Taking oaths is a part of this sinful culture. God's children should behave in different way and follow the teaching of Jesus.
There is in the Bible a passage, which seems to be a request to swear. Paul says to Timothy: "I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions..." 1Tim.5:21 It is obvious that this expression means: "I urge you powerfully..." Timothy doesn't swear here anything and Paul doesn't ask any oath. We can bind ourselves to something, but it is not swearing.
Jesus Christ says: "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago: 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you: Do not swear at all." Matth.5:33-34 One who is reliable tells always the truth. If someone must try to assure or to swear that one tells the truth, the reason is that one is not trusted. Swearing is one way to react upon mistrust. Jesus forbids an oath because it "comes from the evil one". "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes', and your 'No', 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one'." Matth.5:37
Ambiguous people like to give oaths. "Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, 'Yes, yes' and 'No, no'?" 2Cor.1:17 To tell lies in certain circumstances is an accepted habit in this world. People often speak in different ways about the same issue to different people. In this way their speaking can be at the same time as well 'Yes' as 'No'. In court they want to make sure with an oath that now we do not lie as we normally do. Taking oaths is a part of this sinful culture. God's children should behave in different way and follow the teaching of Jesus.
There is in the Bible a passage, which seems to be a request to swear. Paul says to Timothy: "I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions..." 1Tim.5:21 It is obvious that this expression means: "I urge you powerfully..." Timothy doesn't swear here anything and Paul doesn't ask any oath. We can bind ourselves to something, but it is not swearing.
Solemn affirmation
A solemn affirmation is offered to those who don't want to swear. This is a typical attempt to go around the commandment of God. A hypocrite heart can be deceived with a solemn affirmation.
The content of the matter is not changed, if a different expression is used instead of swearing. He who wants to follow Jesus with his whole heart wants carry out the content of the commandment and he is not satisfied with a formal obedience. Jesus says: "Anything beyond this comes from the evil one". A solemn affirmation is something that is added to 'yes' or 'no'. Therefore also it comes from the evil one.
A solemn affirmation is offered to those who don't want to swear. This is a typical attempt to go around the commandment of God. A hypocrite heart can be deceived with a solemn affirmation.
The content of the matter is not changed, if a different expression is used instead of swearing. He who wants to follow Jesus with his whole heart wants carry out the content of the commandment and he is not satisfied with a formal obedience. Jesus says: "Anything beyond this comes from the evil one". A solemn affirmation is something that is added to 'yes' or 'no'. Therefore also it comes from the evil one.
Oath concerning past
A swearing person tries to assure that it happened in the past as he says. If he is not believed he can be misled to swear by God's name or to affirm solemnly by his conscience that the thing is true. Instead of swearing he should bring forth evidences or ask for support from witnesses. It is also possible to call God as a witness but it is not allowed to swear by His name. "I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth." 2Cor.1:23
A court that asks for an oath from witnesses wants to frighten them to tell the truth. God instead forbids swearing therefore that swearing itself leads under condemnation. "Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your 'Yes' be yes, and your 'No', no, or you will be condemned." James 5:12
How severely condemned is a court that asks you to put your hand on the Bible and to give an oath though swearing is forbidden in the Bible! Only a religiously pretending society can be so blind. Instead of an oath the conscience of a witness should be tested. A lie detector can work also when a witness has silenced the voice of his conscience.
A swearing person tries to assure that it happened in the past as he says. If he is not believed he can be misled to swear by God's name or to affirm solemnly by his conscience that the thing is true. Instead of swearing he should bring forth evidences or ask for support from witnesses. It is also possible to call God as a witness but it is not allowed to swear by His name. "I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth." 2Cor.1:23
A court that asks for an oath from witnesses wants to frighten them to tell the truth. God instead forbids swearing therefore that swearing itself leads under condemnation. "Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your 'Yes' be yes, and your 'No', no, or you will be condemned." James 5:12
How severely condemned is a court that asks you to put your hand on the Bible and to give an oath though swearing is forbidden in the Bible! Only a religiously pretending society can be so blind. Instead of an oath the conscience of a witness should be tested. A lie detector can work also when a witness has silenced the voice of his conscience.
Oath concerning future
When Jesus forbids swearing that concerns the future He reminds our inability to control the future. "Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black." Matth.5:36 He specifies this teaching through apostle James: "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" James 4:13-15
What we promise can be a swearing or only a promise that we intend to do something. An oath concerning the future is only for God but not for us.
A military oath is an especially bad thing. Through the oath man gives away his conscience to the state. He promises to follow all commands of his superior and to obey them till his death. Actually he dedicates himself to give a blood-sacrifice for his fatherland. This kind of sacrifice is idolatry.
Under special condemnation are those churches, which arrange ceremonies of military oaths. They bring shame with their deed on the sacrifice of Jesus, on the gospel and on the teachings of Jesus. Because a government of a state is uncertain of the will of its citizens to die for their fatherland, it wants to bind their consciences as firmly as possible. Therefore they want to take God with them to make their war. That oath really has an effect. It helps the absurdity of war.
God has sworn by Himself that the promise which He gave Abraham will be realised. "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath." Heb.6:17 How does He Himself swear and at the same time forbids us to swear?
Before Jesus came there were some situations when it was right to swear or to destroy a sinful nation through a holy war. However Jesus changed these things.When He died instead of all nations He removed the possibility that we could make a holy war in the name of God. When He rose up from the dead, He made it possible for us to get a better deposit which guarantees His blessing.
When Jesus forbids swearing that concerns the future He reminds our inability to control the future. "Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black." Matth.5:36 He specifies this teaching through apostle James: "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'" James 4:13-15
What we promise can be a swearing or only a promise that we intend to do something. An oath concerning the future is only for God but not for us.
A military oath is an especially bad thing. Through the oath man gives away his conscience to the state. He promises to follow all commands of his superior and to obey them till his death. Actually he dedicates himself to give a blood-sacrifice for his fatherland. This kind of sacrifice is idolatry.
Under special condemnation are those churches, which arrange ceremonies of military oaths. They bring shame with their deed on the sacrifice of Jesus, on the gospel and on the teachings of Jesus. Because a government of a state is uncertain of the will of its citizens to die for their fatherland, it wants to bind their consciences as firmly as possible. Therefore they want to take God with them to make their war. That oath really has an effect. It helps the absurdity of war.
God has sworn by Himself that the promise which He gave Abraham will be realised. "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath." Heb.6:17 How does He Himself swear and at the same time forbids us to swear?
Before Jesus came there were some situations when it was right to swear or to destroy a sinful nation through a holy war. However Jesus changed these things.When He died instead of all nations He removed the possibility that we could make a holy war in the name of God. When He rose up from the dead, He made it possible for us to get a better deposit which guarantees His blessing.
The Holy Spirit instead of the guarantee of the oath
Although God swore an oath to Abraham, He doesn't do it anymore to us, but instead He has given us a better deposit: "God set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2Cor.1:22 It is easy to be without oaths when God's peace dwells in my heart, for He in me is my defender.
I say to you who believe in Jesus: I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, to keep this teaching of Jesus so that you don't swear any oaths and you don't give any solemn affirmations.
Although God swore an oath to Abraham, He doesn't do it anymore to us, but instead He has given us a better deposit: "God set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2Cor.1:22 It is easy to be without oaths when God's peace dwells in my heart, for He in me is my defender.
I say to you who believe in Jesus: I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, to keep this teaching of Jesus so that you don't swear any oaths and you don't give any solemn affirmations.
The Bible version used in references is NIV