How often and how freely do you say “I swear” or “I promise” to bolster a statement you’re making?
Growing up I remember the common proclivity to take oaths. Often a statement or assurance was made and there was an inclination to guarantee it through an oath. There was scarcely a day that passed that I wouldn’t hear a classmate say “I swear on/to…” followed by whatever weighty statement the child was invoking. I think it’s fair to estimate that most of the time it was “I swear to God.”
This childhood recollection is what came to mind as I was reading the seventh Biblical commandment as enumerated by Maimonides:
P7 – To swear in His name, as Deuteronomy 10:20 states: “And you shall swear in His name.[1]“
As children, we didn’t grasp the weight of our statements. Perhaps, we still don’t. Swearing and promises are more often empty gestures amid sarcastic banter than a truly solemn vow. At some point, we seem to have lost the reverence and gravity that should come with an oath. Oaths within a courtroom seem to be the only place where modern society still honors the practice and demands adherence to it.
This lack of respect for oath-taking isn’t new though. That’s actually the focus of one of our Master’s teachings. Jesus was bringing correction to the idea of empty promises. He’s reminding us of its sacred space within the life of a Believer.
Matthew 23:16–22 (TLV)
16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘Whoever swears by the Temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the Temple, he is obligated.’ 17 O fools and blind ones! Which is greater, the gold or the Temple that made the gold holy? 18 And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ 19 O blind ones! Which is greater, the offering or the altar that makes the offering holy? 20 Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the Temple, swears both by the Temple and by Him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
In the society of Yeshua’s time, the “blind guides” taught that some oaths carried weight and others didn’t. In like manner, in our modern society, how many times have you heard someone jest “well, it’s not like I swore on the Bible.” Sometimes we expect adherence to a promise, other times we accept the words to be empty. Yeshua was saying that’s not accurate. All oaths, promises, pledges, and assurances from the mouth of a Believer carry the full weight of an oath in the name of God. So take heed when making them.
God doesn’t waiver on this point and it’s not diminished for a Believer in Messiah. In fact, it’s strengthened. God demands more of a follower of Yeshua than a typical human. You aren’t free to jest with empty promises.
There are several more teachings on swearing oaths in the New Testament. I plan to speak to those as I get to future commands such as N61 “Do not swear falsely.” The words of Jesus in Matthew 23 dovetail into those other commands as well, so I’m sure I will be returning to the “woes” of this teaching too.
James 5:12 (ESV)
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.