The Christians And Oaths Series

Oaths and swearing are as common as food and clothing in our life today. This should not be so. As Christ rebuked the hard hearts of the Jews of old so the Bible still rebukes those of us who would use the things of God lightly and treat them with disrespect.

I. Do Not Swear Beyond your Capabilities

A. Don’t swear something to God unless you intend to do it.

1. God always keeps His end of the bargain.

2. You will keep your end whether you wish to or not.

B. Don’t swear by heaven

1. It is God’s throne.

2. You have no control over its activities.

3. Heaven is under no obligation to help you.

4. It is dishonoring to God when you fail to carry out your oath.

C. Don’t swear by earth

1. It is God’s footstool.

2. The earth certainly is not going to be considerate to you just because you pledged its continuance or demise.

D. Don’t swear by Jerusalem

1. It is God’s city where Christ will receive the crown and sit upon the throne.

2. Simply because something is holy or sacred to God the mention of its name does not make you a more honest or upright person.

3. Swearing on the Bible which is God’s truth does not make you any more truthful.

4. Swearing in God’s name does not improve your honesty with man or God.

Note: A liar will swear to anything, so the oath is of no value. By the same token, if a man is honest an oath cannot increase that honesty.

E. Don’t swear by your (head) life

1. It is not yours in the first place.

2. You are not going to surrender it without God’s consent.

3. You cannot extend it beyond the time allowed by God.

4. The Bible says you cannot even change the color of one hair on your head (I am speaking of natural color of course) so how do you expect to control your destiny.

II. Learn to be Content with the Simple Truth

A. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

1. My children have a hard time learning that no means no, but if I stick to my decisions they soon learn.

2. The world is just like my children. They must learn that I mean what I say or that I do not mean what I say.

B. When you go beyond this you are taking a chance of destroying the faith that men have in you. And you are affecting your fellowship with God.