Matthew 5:37

[adstrinity]

More importantly, 5:33 - 37. Jesus says do not swear at all. The DR says not so much at all, but, rather rashly.

“34 “Not to swear at all”… It is not forbid to swear in truth, justice and judgment; to the honour of God, or our own or neighbor’s just defence: but only to swear rashly, or profanely, in common discourse, and without necessity.”

Is there an official Catholic stance on this? Or, any opionions or discources?

(My Boss (Baptist) takes it very literally where as my co-worker (Other kind of Baptist) says it’s a translation thing (and he’s a KJV-guy. I forgot what he said about the NIV but, basically, it is heretically poisonous non-sense garbage that was done by people who didn’t know their Bible. Anyway, this got me wondering if the Catholics, as a Church have a position or a speculation/theory on it.)

 

[tobinatorstark]

More importantly, 5:33 - 37. Jesus says do not swear at all. The DR says not so much at all, but, rather rashly.

“34 “Not to swear at all”… It is not forbid to swear in truth, justice and judgment; to the honour of God, or our own or neighbor’s just defence: but only to swear rashly, or profanely, in common discourse, and without necessity.”

Is there an official Catholic stance on this? Or, any opionions or discources?

(My Boss (Baptist) takes it very literally where as my co-worker (Other kind of Baptist) says it’s a translation thing (and he’s a KJV-guy. I forgot what he said about the NIV but, basically, it is heretically poisonous non-sense garbage that was done by people who didn’t know their Bible. Anyway, this got me wondering if the Catholics, as a Church have a position or a speculation/theory on it.)

parts of swearing violate the commandments by taking the Lord’s name in vein That would be a stance that the Church could possibly have

 

[JRKH]

More importantly, 5:33 - 37. Jesus says do not swear at all. The DR says not so much at all, but, rather rashly.

“34 “Not to swear at all”… It is not forbid to swear in truth, justice and judgment; to the honour of God, or our own or neighbor’s just defence: but only to swear rashly, or profanely, in common discourse, and without necessity.”

Is there an official Catholic stance on this? Or, any opionions or discources?

(My Boss (Baptist) takes it very literally where as my co-worker (Other kind of Baptist) says it’s a translation thing (and he’s a KJV-guy. I forgot what he said about the NIV but, basically, it is heretically poisonous non-sense garbage that was done by people who didn’t know their Bible. Anyway, this got me wondering if the Catholics, as a Church have a position or a speculation/theory on it.)

The Catachism has this to say:
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.” 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, 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.”

If I may offer my own understanding it is this.
Jesus is telling us that we must be truthful in ALL that we say. We must fulfill every promise we make whether it involves an oath or not. To do otherwise violates the second of the Great Commandments which is to Love your neighbor as yourself.
The reason that Jesus says that, “Anything else is from the evil one” is simply this. If an Oath (swearing) is required it presupposes that our word alone is not good. That we feel that, so long as we haven’t sworn an oath, we can break our promise without sin. This kind of hair splitting is definitely from the evil one and Jesus makes this very clear.

Peace
James