Leviticus 5 · a question people ask
Should Christians swear oaths at all?
Leviticus 5:4 deals with an oath sworn "rashly", and it assumes people swear. Jesus said, "I tell you, don’t swear at all" (Matthew 5:34), and James writes, "don’t swear—not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath" (James 5:12). Christians read these words in two main ways. Both agree on what Jesus and James ask for: "let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’" (Matthew 5:37).
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
No oaths at all
Jesus said, "don’t swear at all" (Matthew 5:34), and "Whatever is more than these is of the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). James writes, "above all things", "don’t swear—not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath" (James 5:12). On this reading, a follower of Jesus gives a plain yes or no, even where an oath is asked for.
Matthew 5:34-37 · James 5:12
No careless or evasive oaths
Jesus' examples are oaths "by heaven", "by the earth", "by Jerusalem" and by "your head" (Matthew 5:34-36), and elsewhere he condemns those who say, "Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing" (Matthew 23:16). Paul writes, "I call God for a witness to my soul" (2 Corinthians 1:23). Hebrews says, "in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation" (Hebrews 6:16). When the high priest said to Jesus, "I adjure you by the living God" (Matthew 26:63), Jesus answered (Matthew 26:64). On this reading, Jesus forbids the everyday and evasive oaths, not a solemn one.
Matthew 5:34-36 · Matthew 23:16-22 · 2 Corinthians 1:23 · Hebrews 6:16 · Matthew 26:63-64
The verses
““‘Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil or to do good—whatever it is that a man might utter rashly with an oath, and it is hidden from him—when he knows of it, then he will be guilty of one of these.”
““Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.”
“But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear—not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no”, “no”, so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy.”