Swearing Oaths

[Andrew2009]

In Matthew Ch. 5 Jesus says not to swear oaths by various things (heaven, earth etc). He says “simply let your yes be yes and your no, no”.

Does this apply to swearing an oath in court to tell the truth? Or swearing an oath when joining the police force or the military etc? Such oaths are often sworn by God and with a Bible. Is this practice consistent with what Jesus said about oaths?

Can anyone explain this? Thanks.

 

[LilyM]

In Matthew Ch. 5 Jesus says not to swear oaths by various things (heaven, earth etc). He says “simply let your yes be yes and your no, no”.

Does this apply to swearing an oath in court to tell the truth? Or swearing an oath when joining the police force or the military etc? Such oaths are often sworn by God and with a Bible. Is this practice consistent with what Jesus said about oaths?

Can anyone explain this? Thanks.

These days, being the secular and multicultural places most Western societies are, an option is nearly always offered to people in such situations to make a non-religious affirmation of some sort (ie not referring to God or sworn on the Bible) rather than an oath.
Even if it isn’t, there’s nothing wrong with asking for an alternative to be provided should taking an oath give you concerns. After all, what if you were an atheist or non-Christian? A religious oath, invoking the Christian God and/or sworn on the Christian Bible, would be pretty much meaningless.

Having said that, there is nothing wrong or sinful about taking an oath in a serious situation such as an Oath of Office or in a court situation. I guess the reasoning might be that vows are permitted, for example in weddings and religious professions. A vow is very similar in concept to an oath, being a promise made together with an invocation to God.

 

[JRKH]

I have often thought about this too. I’ve even “daydreamed” about being in a court and rather than take the oath on the bible, taking the bible from the bailiffs hand, turning to Mt and reading the passage you mention. Then promising to say yes when I mean yes and no when I mean no. I suspect that no Judge would have a problem with this.

There can also be some subtle destinctions in how the oath is worded.
For instance.
Many oaths are taken and then, tacked on to the end is - “So Help Me God”. Which is not swearing by God but merely asking for God’s help in executing the vow you are taking.