Does the Bible forbid all oath taking? Are there times when it is OK to take an oath?

1. “So Help Me God”
Taking Oaths – A Biblical View

2. “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth.”
“I take thee to be my lawful wedded wife and I
promise before God and these witnesses.”
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully excecute the
office of the President of the United States.”
Weddings – Inaugurations – Court rooms – Official
documents
What does the Bible teach about taking oaths?

3. Oaths Defined
Oath = promise, a promise or agreement
between 2 people
Appealing to God to avenge the failure to keep
this promise
– Bride and Groom at their wedding
– Testifying in court
– Entering a contract
– Signing official government documents
– Taking government office

4. The 3rd Commandment
Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name
of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord
will not hold him guiltless who takes His
name in vain.
Many assume this means don't curse – use
profanity
“Name of the Lord” - not a literal name – but
God Himself

5. The 3rd Commandment
“In Vain” - literally means “falsely”
Do not swear (utter) the name of God to a lie
Do not swear (utter) the name of God falsely
Do not appeal to God to confirm a falsehood
It also includes other irreverent uses of God's
name

6. In Defense of Oaths
Does Scripture forbid ALL oaths?
Matthew 5:33-35 33 "Again you have heard
that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not
swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to
the Lord.' 34 But I say to you, do not swear at
all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne;
35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor
by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great
King.

7. In Defense of Oaths
Does Scripture forbid ALL oaths?
Matthew 5:36-37 36 Nor shall you swear by
your head, because you cannot make one hair
white or black. 37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,'
and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than
these is from the evil one.

8. In Defense of Oaths
Does Scripture forbid ALL oaths?
James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not
swear, either by heaven or by earth or with
any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes,"
and your "No," "No," lest you fall into
judgment.
CAUTION: Not all oaths, but all unlawful
(unbiblical) oaths are forbidden

9. The General Context
We are commanded to swear by the name of
God
Deuteronomy 6:13 You shall fear the Lord
your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths
in His name.
Isaiah 65:16 So that he who blesses himself in
the earth Shall bless himself in the God of
truth; And he who swears in the earth Shall
swear by the God of truth;

10. The General Context
Swearing is a part of worship
Deuteronomy 10:20-21 You shall fear the
Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to
Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His
name
21 He is your praise, and He is your God, who
has done for you these great and awesome
things which your eyes have seen.

11. The General Context
Examples of those who swore
God Himself – Hebrews 6:13 For when God
made a promise to Abraham, because He could
swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
Hebrews 7:21 (for they have become priests
without an oath, but He with an oath by Him
who said to Him: "The Lord has sworn And will
not relent, 'You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek' "),

12. The General Context
Examples of those who swore
God Himself
Christ – Matthew 26:63-64a 63 But Jesus kept
silent. And the high priest answered and said to
Him, "I put You under oath by the living God:
Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" 64
Jesus said to him, "It is as you said.”

13. The General Context
Examples of those who swore
Apostle Paul
Romans 1:9a For God is my witness
Philippians 1:8a For God is my witness
1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you by the Lord
that this epistle be read to all the holy
brethren.
2 Corinthians 1:23a Moreover I call God as
witness against my soul

14. The Particular Context
Matthew 5:33-37
The Jews had created situations
where lying was OK
Speaking beyond “Yes” and “No” is
“from the evil one”

15. Biblical Guidelines
We must distinguish the lawful from the
unlawful oaths. The Bible does this for us.
Should you take an oath?
1) The object of the oath must be Biblical
2) What you promise must be true, and kept.
3)The oath must be necessary
4) You must be ready to abide by the oath –
No Matter What!

16. Content of the Oath
The oath must appeal to God alone.
The language of the oath must be clear,
unequivocal, unambiguous
It is helpful to reduce the oath to writing

17. Breaking an Oath
Violates the 3rd Commandment
Violates the teaching of Jesus and James
Don't make excuses
As much as humanly possible – keep the oath

18. Invalid reasons for Breaking an Oath
Change in circumstances
Oath which is impossible to perform
Know it is impossible – don't make it
Violation negates the oath
Today – fail to pay loan, car is repossessed
Car is sold and you still owe any balance
Oath if required by law
Government may require oath – court,
documents, take office

19. Valid reasons for Breaking an Oath
If the oath is sinful
In Russia – Orthodox promise to light
candles, say prayers, pay fees
Herod – the promise to kill John was sinful
Jephthah – sacrifice his daughter
If the oath becomes impossible
Promise to mow a lawn – suffer a stroke
and are paralyzed
Promise to attend a wedding – in ICU with
heart attack

20. Conclusion
“When an oath is falsely taken, it is a heaven
daring attempt to enlist the Almighty in the
sanction of the creature's lie and is thus, either
the most outrageous levity, or the most
outrageous impiety of which he can be guilty.”
R. L. Dabney
FINAL NOTE: Baptism is an oath (vow) to be
faithful to Christ and His church.