When “I Swear…” is a Lie

Matthew 5:33-37, NRSV – “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’  But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.  Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

In the passage for today, Jesus takes on a common practice in his day – taking oaths.  It seems a bit silly at first; after all, what’s wrong with making a vow or taking an oath.  One could even make a case that making such strong commitments is honorable, but that’s exactly why Jesus offers this teaching.  

In the ancient world of Judaism, it was commonplace for folks to invoke heaven, Jerusalem (the holy city), or on their own life when making a promise.  It was a way of giving their words more credence.  In our own day, we have some similar practices.  “I swear on my mother’s life. . .,” I swear to God. . .,”  or even “I swear on all that is holy. . .” are some examples.  Jesus is pointing out that this practice lacks integrity.  If I swear on my mother’s life, I do so with no real intention of having my Mom die if I don’t keep my promise.  Most people, when they say, “I swear to God,” have no real fear that, should they default on their promise, God will punish them because of their broken word.  It is invoking a lie to convince someone that you’re telling the truth.  It is manipulative and disingenuous. This is the lack of integrity Jesus is trying to steer us away from practicing.  It much better, he teaches, to simply be a person who does what you say. 

But still, is there any situation where it might be appropriate to take an oath?  The early church seemed to think so, for the Apostle Paul took oaths. There is even an account in Revelation where an angel takes an oath.  The Bible teaches that on matters of great weight and importance, it might be appropriate to take an oath, but it should be one that you would do all in your power to keep.  In this situation, the oath is a mechanism for helping you keep your integrity.  But even in this case, we don’t, as they say, “write checks that our body can’t cash.”  There are those who have taken a vow of poverty, but they don’t promise that on their mother’s life.  The public nature of their oath makes it an instrument of accountability.  If they are seen acquiring wealth, their lack of integrity becomes part of the public record.  Using an oath in this way to constrain oneself is honorable and something I believe Jesus would condone. 

The core of this teaching is personal honesty and integrity.  Let your word be YOUR word.  Don’t try to prop it up by invoking others or God in some way.  Just be an honest person.  And should you take an oath, you should do so in a way that seeks to build integrity and accountability, not diminish it. 

Question:  In what way does Jesus’s word about honesty in this passage speak to you? 

Prayer:  God, point out to me any lack of integrity in my practices.  I desire to be known as one whose word is good all on its own.  Shape my heart and mind so that it may be so. Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for your family members today.

Song:  I Am Yours (The Wesley Covenant) – COR Worship Collective