Does these mean we can't take Oaths?

[SwissGuard25]

Hello,

I have a question concerning the Gospel according to Matthew.

Matthew 5:33-37
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Does this mean we can’t take oaths in court, etc?

 

[Marc_Anthony]

Hello,

I have a question concerning the Gospel according to Matthew.

Does this mean we can’t take oaths in court, etc?

I’m not sure of the official Catholic interpretation of this verse, but I do know that courts give people the option to affirm rather than swear if one wants to avoid swearing for religious reasons.

 

[1ke]

Hello,

I have a question concerning the Gospel according to Matthew.

Does this mean we can’t take oaths in court, etc?

No. From the CCC:

II. Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain

2150 The second commandment forbids false oaths. Taking an oath or swearing is to take God as witness to what one affirms. It is to invoke the divine truthfulness as a pledge of one’s own truthfulness. An oath engages the Lord’s name. "You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him, and swear by his name."81

2151 Rejection of false oaths is a duty toward God. As Creator and Lord, God is the norm of all truth. Human speech is either in accord with or in opposition to God who is Truth itself. When it is truthful and legitimate, an oath highlights the relationship of human speech with God’s truth. A false oath calls on God to be witness to a lie.

2152 A person commits perjury when he makes a promise under oath with no intention of keeping it, or when after promising on oath he does not keep it. Perjury is a grave lack of respect for the Lord of all speech. Pledging oneself by oath to commit an evil deed is contrary to the holiness of the divine name.

2153 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained the second commandment: "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all… Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one."82 Jesus teaches that every oath involves a reference to God and that God’s presence and his truth must be honored in all speech. Discretion in calling upon God is allied with a respectful awareness of his presence, which all our assertions either witness to or mock.

2154 Following St. Paul,83 The tradition of the Church has understood Jesus’ words as not excluding oaths made for grave and right reasons (for example, in court). "An oath, that is the invocation of the divine name as a witness to truth, cannot be taken unless in truth, in judgment, and in justice."84

2155 The holiness of the divine name demands that we neither use it for trivial matters, nor take an oath which on the basis of the circumstances could be interpreted as approval of an authority unjustly requiring it. When an oath is required by illegitimate civil authorities, it may be refused. It must be refused when it is required for purposes contrary to the dignity of persons or to ecclesial communion.

 

[Blue_Horizon]

No. From the CCC:

II. Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain

2150 The second commandment forbids false oaths. Taking an oath or swearing is to take God as witness to what one affirms. It is to invoke the divine truthfulness as a pledge of one’s own truthfulness. An oath engages the Lord’s name. "You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him, and swear by his name."81

2151 Rejection of false oaths is a duty toward God. As Creator and Lord, God is the norm of all truth. Human speech is either in accord with or in opposition to God who is Truth itself. When it is truthful and legitimate, an oath highlights the relationship of human speech with God’s truth. A false oath calls on God to be witness to a lie.

2152 A person commits perjury when he makes a promise under oath with no intention of keeping it, or when after promising on oath he does not keep it. Perjury is a grave lack of respect for the Lord of all speech. Pledging oneself by oath to commit an evil deed is contrary to the holiness of the divine name.

2153 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explained the second commandment: "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all… Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one."82 Jesus teaches that every oath involves a reference to God and that God’s presence and his truth must be honored in all speech. Discretion in calling upon God is allied with a respectful awareness of his presence, which all our assertions either witness to or mock.

2154 Following St. Paul,83 The tradition of the Church has understood Jesus’ words as not excluding oaths made for grave and right reasons (for example, in court). "An oath, that is the invocation of the divine name as a witness to truth, cannot be taken unless in truth, in judgment, and in justice."84

2155 The holiness of the divine name demands that we neither use it for trivial matters, nor take an oath which on the basis of the circumstances could be interpreted as approval of an authority unjustly requiring it. When an oath is required by illegitimate civil authorities, it may be refused. It must be refused when it is required for purposes contrary to the dignity of persons or to ecclesial communion.

And yet Jesus still tells us the better way is “to simply say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” I don’t see anything about false oaths here.

 

[Qoeleth]

Hello,

I have a question concerning the Gospel according to Matthew.

Does this mean we can’t take oaths in court, etc?

The letter of James (5:12) confirms it: Ante omnia autem fratres mei, nolite iurare neque per caelum neque per terram neque aliud quodcumque iuramentum sit autem vestrum est est non non uti non sub iudicio decidatis-
But above all, my brothers, do not swear neither by heaven, not by earth, nor by anything else. If you answer is is (say) it is, (and if) no (say) no, that you not be condemned.

It is better not to take oaths. Jesus is pretty clear about it James, the Head of the Jerusalem Church, confirms the teaching of Jesus, in almost the exact words.

Better to be on the safe side- when we face Judgement Day, Christ will call us to account for our deeds. Why take the risk?

 

[mangy_dog]

Hello,

I have a question concerning the Gospel according to Matthew.

Does this mean we can’t take oaths in court, etc?

" I solemnly affirm" is what I always use. This is very much acceptable in any court or notarial setting.

 

[R_C]

The Church has been very clear on this topic, as 1ke quotes (CCC 2150-2155). By virtue of obedience we know that by following the teachings of the Church we will not offend the Lord. To reason the Lord’s words by ourselves and come up with our own interpretation of what we should or should not do may be the greater risk.