Theology of theWestminster Confession

Adult Sunday School

2017

Lawful Oaths and Vows

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WCF 22

An overlooked topic today

• Were you surprised to know that the Confession devotes an entire chapter to this topic?

• Obviously, this was an issue for the Church in the 1640s; there was confusion and superstition regarding them

• Many Christians today ignore the subject, or have a very limited view of it.

• Didn’t Jesus say, “Do not take an oath at all…let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’… “ Matthew 5:33-37

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Scripture interprets Jesus’ words about oaths

• There’s more to the subject than a contextual-less understanding of what Jesus said. It’s not as if His words here in the Sermon on the Mount supersede and dismiss all other texts concerning oaths and vows.

• There are many needful uses of oaths and vows in our civil and religious life, laid out for us in Scripture

• How are we then to understand what Jesus said? This lesson seeks to explain.

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Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, in which —on an appropriate occasion—the person taking the oath solemnly calls upon God to witness what he asserts or promises and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he swears. [WCF 22.1, MESV]

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The good kind of swearing

• The 3rd Commandment tells us to not use God’s name in vain—the context here is the swearing of oaths

• The 3rd Commandment therefore assumes there is an appropriate use of God’s name in the swearing of oaths—calling God to serve as witness to our words, and judging us if we are false

• This Commandment is far more than the prohibition against using curse words

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Careless swearing forbidden

• There is a time and place to in fact, use God’s name

• The old commentators saw Matt 5:37 and James 5:12 in the context of a quick and thoughtless and careless swearing of an oath. They caution not to use oaths in everyday occurrences. Saying “I swear” at the end of every sentence does not make anyone think you to be a more truthful individual—just the opposite, in fact.

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Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

The name of God is the only name by which men should swear, and they should do so with all holy fear and reverence. Therefore, to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and fearful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful and to be abhorred. Yet since, in matters of weight and great importance, an oath is warranted by the Word of God under the new testament as well as under the old, therefore, a lawful oath ought to be taken when imposed in such matters by lawful authority. [WCF 22.2, MESV]

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In God’s name only

• We are to swear by God’s name only—He alone knows all that is true, and is the Judge of all

• We need to consider when we swear an oath it is “with all holy fear and reverence”

• Oaths are indeed warranted by the Word of God—Heb 6:16: For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.

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An example of a lawful oath

• The Apostle Paul himself swore an oath to the church at Corinth - But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 2 Cor 1:23

• “Lawful oaths ought to be taken when imposed in such matters by lawful authorities” -- What are some examples?

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Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

Whoever takes an oath ought to consider seriously the great importance of such a solemn act, and in doing so should affirm nothing but what he himself is fully convinced is the truth. A person may bind himself by oath only to what is good and just, what he believes to be such, and what he is able and resolved to perform. [WCF 22.3, MESV]

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Speak the truth and swearing to do good

• Whoever takes an oath should ponder the weightiness of what they are doing

• Jer 4:2: “and if you swear, ‘As the Lord lives’, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,” - we need to make sure we are justified and fully persuaded when we call God as witness

• Ensure we bind ourselves to do only what we should do, plan to do, and can do. See Genesis 24:1-7 for the wisdom exhibited by Abraham’s servant, Eliezer

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Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

The oath is to be taken in the plain and usual sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation. It cannot oblige a person to sin, but when it is taken in matters which are not sinful, it obligates performance of the oath even though it may hurt. The oath is not to be violated even though it is made to heretics or unbelievers. [WCF 22.4, MESV]

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Sometimes the wicked swear deceitfully

• The psalmist reminds us that there are people who do not have clean hands and hearts and swear deceitfully

• Psa 24:3-5: Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

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No equivocation

• It is because human society is corrupt and riddled with lies and broken promises, that we swear oaths at all

• We are never to deceive with our oaths. Even those oaths made in front of, or to, heretics and infidels.

• However, if we realize we have sinned by swearing to do what was wrong, or foolishly, we must not add to our sin by carrying out that foolish oath and seek God’s forgiveness. See Judges 11:29 and following:

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Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

• Judges 11: 29 - 40. And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”…Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances…he said, “Alas, my daughter! For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow.”

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Oaths and vows: what’s the difference?

A vow is similar in nature to a promissory oath and ought to be made with the same religious care and be performed with the same faithfulness. [WCF 22.5, MESV]

• Oaths and vows are similar, and the terms can be interchanged, but if we want to get technical:

• Vows are made to God only

• Oaths are all promises we make in God’s presence

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Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

A vow is to be made only to God and not to any created being. In order for it to be acceptable, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith and conviction of duty, either from thankfulness for mercy or from the desire to obtain what we lack. By taking a vow we bind ourselves more strictly to necessary duties, or to other things to the extent that they contribute to the performance of these duties. [WCF 22.6, MESV]

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Characteristics of a vow

• Is the marriage vow a vow only, or is it an oath as well?

• Same for church membership vows?

• Vows are promises with certain characteristics:

• Voluntary, to encourage us in our duties

• Made with a purpose—to give thanks, to plead for something we desire

• More strictly bind ourselves to what is necessary, or what is fitting and proper

• Need to also recognize our human shortcomings—vows should contain an acknowledgement, such as “as long as…”

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Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

No one may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God or anything which would hinder the performance of any duty it commands. No one may vow to do anything for which he has no ability and for which he has no promise of ability from God. With respect to these things, Roman Catholic monastic vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience—far from being steps to higher perfection—are in fact superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself. [WCF 22.7, MESV]

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Foolish vows

• Should not promise to do anything forbidden by the Word of God

• The Jewish militants in Acts 23:12 - When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

• Should not promise what would keep us from obedience to God’s Word

• Should not promise what we do not have the strength to carry out

• Should not promise to do what God has not promised He will help us do

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Certain oaths and vows within the Roman Catholic Church

• This section ends with a comparison to the oaths and vows within the Roman Catholic Church

• One such is the vow of celibacy…

• But God’s way of dealing with the sin of lust often includes the blessing of marriage

• And a vow of poverty…

• But this inhibits obedience to other commands, such as to work hard to help those truly in need (Eph 4:28)

• These commitments to an austere pattern of obedience cannot often be kept by men and only have an appearance of wisdom

• They bring the Lord’s displeasure when they are made, and again when they are broken

• We must not entangle ourselves with foolish oaths and vows

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Summary of Oaths and VowsWCF22

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• We see in God’s Word there are reasons and needs to take oaths and vows

• We must do so in all seriousness, without haste or without carelessness

• Lawful authorities may require us to take oaths, it is appropriate to do so

• Oaths and vows are to be taken in God’s name only

• Ensure we bind ourselves to do only what we should do, plan to do, and

can do

• We are never to deceive with our oaths

• We are never to make foolish oaths or vows; if we do, or realize it is

beyond our ability to do, we should not compound sin by carrying out

sinful or foolish vows, and seek God’s forgiveness

Consider and discuss

1. Are you convinced that Jesus did not forbid all oaths and vows in the Sermon on the Mount? Why?

2. What value do godly oaths and vows have in the church? In society?

3. Apart from the contexts of churches and courts of law, name other situations when oaths or vows may be appropriate.

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4. Do we have any comparable situations today to which Jesus’ ban on oaths apply? Discuss the similarities and differences.

5. Are you currently under any lawful oaths or vows? What measures do you use to remember them?

6. Have you ever placed yourself under an unlawful/ungodly oath or vow? What are you going to do about it?

Memorize

Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not take an oath 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 take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

Matthew 5:33-37

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Going deeper

Articles

• Beeke, Joel. Be Ye Perfect.

• Dietsch, Peter. WCF 22: Lawful Oaths and Vows.

• Phillips, Richard. Through the Westminster Confession: Chapter 22.

• Poythress, Vern. Why Lying is Always Wrong.

• Articles on Oaths and Vows at Ligonier.org.

Audio/Video

• Sproul, R.C. Oaths and Vows.

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