Articles
I Swear To...
“But above all, my brethren, do not swear….” (Jas. 5:12)
Remember the times that you made someone pinky swear? Young children might still do it, and we may consider it to be sweet. However, there is a violent tradition for the origin of this gesture. Centuries ago in Japan, when a promise was made and one failed to keep it, then their pinky finger was removed. Ouch! Maybe not as physically painful, but think about when one must swear to tell the truth in court by placing their hand on the Bible. One commits perjury when they give false testimony in court. Some punishments include time in prison and fines. Another example is when a man and woman state their vows at their wedding. How often do these vows get broken? Do you see a pattern? Maybe we need to consider our promises before we make them!
Potentially the greatest rash oath in Scripture is the one made by Jephthah in Judges 11. In verses 30 & 31, he made a vow to the Lord saying, “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” He was victorious in battle, but there was no happiness in his victory. When he returned home, his daughter, his only child, approached him. He was devastated. In verse 39 he fulfilled the vow that he had promised to the Lord. There was a stipulation in the Law of Moses that Jephthah could have saved his daughter. In Leviticus 5:4ff, one who makes a foolish vow could later admit their guilt and provide an offering to be forgiven of this sin. Sadly, Jephthah did not consider the potential consequences of his rash promise.
One of the most memorable vows in Scripture occurred at the Last Supper. Jesus declared to the disciples that one of them was going to betray Him. Peter spoke up and said, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” (Matt. 26:35) The rest of the disciples said the same thing. Of course, from the Gospel accounts, Peter would deny Jesus three times and the rest of the disciples would run away when the Lord was arrested.
Under the Law of Moses, a vow or oath was very serious. Numbers 30:2 says, “If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. Also, in Deuteronomy 23:21, Moses wrote in regards to vows, “…you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the Lord your God will surely require it of you.”
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated, “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil” (Matt. 5:37). This same sentiment was echoed in the epistle written by James (Ch. 5:12). Elsewhere, Jesus called out the religious leaders for their foolish demands or burdens they placed upon people (cf. Matt. 23:16ff). These ‘blind guides’ were leading others to sin by swearing to things that were of lesser importance to that which was holy.
Ultimately, God wants us to be true to our words (cf. Prov. 12:19). We may have said something like, “You can trust me—I swear to God!” How often have we failed in keeping our promises to God? We may want to pause before making a promise to someone. We should ask ourselves, “Is this a promise I can keep?” Regrettably, many relationships are ruined by the lack of integrity found in people. Some human bonds are broken; however, God still offers reconciliation to those that want to mend their relationship with Him.
The next time that you are at a wedding—think about what the man and woman are committing to one another. The next time you hear someone agree to tell the whole truth. Remember that these vows are not being made just before those present, but most importantly by the Creator. As the saying goes, “Our word is our bond.”
