James Swear Not

 

James

Swear Not

If you are a person where your words are not frivolous or misleading

People will trust you, your integrity will stay intact

When a times comes to swear on an oath

You will not need the threat of punishment

Because you will, from the heart, want to fulfill your obligation 

Writing contracts will not be for the purpose of protection

But to make clear the agreement

Because the last thing you want is a misunderstanding 

“Above all things, my brethren, swear not”

KEEP IT SIMPLE

“But let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay”

IT IS A MATTER OF INTEGRITY AND THOUGHTFULNESS

 

Swear Not

 

James is not talking about curse

words or taking God’s name in vain…

 

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.

My brothers, this should not be.

James 3:10

 

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,

which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

 Ephesians 5:4

 

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God,

 for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Exodus 20:7

 

Jesus our Lord affirms this

command in teaching us to pray...

 

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

 Matthew 6:9

 

Cursing and misusing God’s

name have become so common,

 it is hard to keep them out of our speech.

 

We have become good at making adjustments,

 so it is more acceptable..

 

 But it is still the same thing.

 

Like “Gee” or Geez” which

are shorten versions of “Jesus”.

 

We should not curse or take God’s name

in vain, but this is not James’ point.

 

James is talking about invoking God’s

name in every day speech to assure

the truthfulness of what we say.

 

If someone often says…

 

 “I swear to God that’s true”.

 

You begin to wonder if

anything that person says is true.

 

Your words and my words should be

true without making a big deal out of it.

 

James says…

 

 “Swear not, neither by heaven,

neither by the earth,

neither by any other oath.”

 

Oath’s have their place.

 

Fear the LORD your God and serve him.

Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.

Deuteronomy 10:20

 

And if they learn well the ways of my people and

swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives' —

even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal —

then they will be established among my people.

Jeremiah 12:16

 

In the New Testament when Jesus was

on trial, the high priest said to Him…

 

"I charge you under oath by the living God:

 Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

Matthew 26:63-64

 

This was the only time Jesus spoke at His trial.

 

So Jesus answered under oath.

 

Paul used an oath “God is my witness” at least 5 times.

Romans 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:23; Philippians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 10; Galatians 1:20

 

God Himself Swears.

 

God Swore to David with an oath that one of

his descendants would always sit on his throne.

 Acts 2:30

 

God swore to Abraham that he would

bless him and multiply him.

 Hebrews 6:13-14

 

There are appropriate times for a vow or oath.

 

Water Baptism is a vow of the believer.

 

We are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Our vow is a confession of identifying

with the death, burial and resurrection

of Jesus Christ, a public witness of our

commitment to a new life in Christ.

 

The marriage vows are appropriate

to a binding convent with God

between a man and a woman.

 

Vows are important.

 

They show our level of commitment

and should not be taken lightly.

 

There are two cases in which

we wrongly use a vow or oath…

 

The frivolous oath and the false oath.

 

Mark 6:23 is a good example

of a frivolous vow or oath.

     

King Herod in a drunken state offered

half his kingdom to Herodias daughter

and she asked for John the Baptist’s head.

 

Jehpthah foolishly made an oath to sacrifice the

first thing that comes in his house to meet him.

 Judges 11

 

Vows are not to be entered into quickly.

 

They are serious and should not be taken lightly.

 

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.

And do not protest to the [temple] messenger, "My vow was a mistake."

 Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.

Therefore stand in awe of God.

 Ecclesiastes 5:5-7

 

If you make a frivolous vow…

 

 Repent.

 

Go settle the matter quickly

before you are taken to court.

 Matthew 5:25

 

Don’t let your pride get in the way by saying…

 

 “I am a person of my word”.

 

 If you are wrong…

 

 Be humble and work out the matter with others and God.

 

False oaths are to deceive others.

 

 Jesus and James point this out when they talk

about the Jews making an oath made by

the temple means nothing…

 

 But if you swear by the gold of the temple it is binding.

 Mathew 23:16-22, James 5:12

 

A false oath can also be a misleading contract.

 

If you are a person where your words are

not frivolous or misleading…

 

 People will trust you, your integrity will stay intact.

 

When a times comes to swear on an oath…

 

 You will not need the threat of punishment because

you will, from the heart, want to fulfill your obligation.

 

Writing contracts will not be for the purpose of protection…

 

 But to make clear the agreement because

the last thing you want is a misunderstanding.

 

“Above all things, my brethren, swear not.”

 

KEEP IT SIMPLE

 

“But let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay.”

 

IT IS A MATTER OF INTEGRITY AND THOUGHTFULNESS

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 5:12 KJV

 

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.