The Problem of Oaths

We were privileged last week to witness the interaction of two dear friends, David and Jonathan. But we must remember that they were united by more than mere interests or avocations—they had taken the additional step of cementing their friendship with a covenant. From their initial covenant (18:3) to its expansion to include their descendants (20:12–17), they were willing to vow loyal love to one another and to call God as a witness of their covenant faithfulness (20:16, 23, 42). This practice of making oaths and vows is common in Scripture, but it is rarer today, except in such contexts as marriage vows and oaths of office. Plus, oaths are treated much more casually in our time. How, then, are we to understand just what David and Jonathan were doing? And what Scriptural principles should we look to for guidance in taking oaths and vows? We will depart from 1 Samuel this week to explore these and other questions with the help of Dr. R.C. Sproul’s audio teaching series Oaths & Vows.

The Scriptural teaching on oaths and vows is far from easy to understand. As noted above, vows are common in Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament. The law of God nowhere condemns this practice, only demanding that those who take vows prove themselves faithful to keep them (Lev. 19:12; Deut. 23:21–23). And, of course, God Himself makes oaths by entering into covenants with His people (Gen. 12:2–3; 15:12– 21). When we come to the New Testament, we find important leaders of the church, such as the apostle Paul, making vows and oaths (Acts 18:18; Rom. 1:9). However, the teaching here seems much more opposed to this practice. One well-known verse is James 5:12—”But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath.” And even Jesus seems to outlaw the practice of taking vows, saying in the Sermon on the Mount, “But I say to you, do not swear at all” (Matt. 5:34a)—even though He Himself submits to an oath (Matt. 26:63).

At first glance, these verses may seem to point out a contradiction in Scripture. But such is not the case. In our next two studies, we will look more closely at Jesus’ teaching on oaths, then move on in the following two days to discover some Scriptural principles that should guide us in our own oath-taking.