THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH

CHAPTER XXII

Of Lawful Oaths and Vows


Go to Oaths

Go to Vows

1. A lawful oath is part of religious worship,[a]

 

 

 

God takes oaths.

 

God commands us to take oaths.

 

Every thing we do "in the Name of Jesus" is like an oath. We are not to take (swear by) the Name of God in vain.

[a]. Deut. 10:20; and also Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10-11

Deuteronomy 10:20 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; Him shalt thou serve, and to Him shalt thou cleave, and swear by His Name.
see also:
Isaiah 45:23 I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Philippians 2:10-11 That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; {11} And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth, or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth.[b]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we see numerous examples of how Jesus' apostles took oaths.

[b]. Exod. 20:7; Lev. 19:12; II Cor. 1:23; II Cor. 11:31; and also Gal. 1:20; II Chron. 6:22-23; Rom. 1:9

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain.
Leviticus 19:12 And ye shall not swear by My Name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the Name of thy God: I am the LORD.
2 Corinthians 1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
2 Chronicles 6:22-23 If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house; {23} Then hear Thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
see also:
Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
Galatians 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

2. The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence.[c] [c]. Deut. 6:13; and also Josh. 23:7

Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by His Name.
see also
Joshua 23:7 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

Therefore, to swear vainly, or rashly, by that glorious and dreadful Name; or, to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred.[d]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not all oath-taken is forbidden, only hypocritical and self-serving oath taking.

[d]. Exod. 20:7; Jer. 5:7; Matt. 5:33-37; James 5:12

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Jeremiah 5:7 How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
Matthew 5:33-37 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: {34} But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: {35} Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. {36} Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. {37} But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Yet, as in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the Word of God, under the new testament as well as under the old;[e] [e]. Heb. 6:16; II Cor. 1:23; Isa. 65:16

Hebrews 6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
2 Corinthians 1:23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
Isaiah 65:16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

so a lawful oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such matters, ought to be taken.[f] [f]. I Kings 8:31; Neh. 13:25; Ezra 10:5

1 Kings 8:31 If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:
Nehemiah 13:25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
Ezra 10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.

3. Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully persuaded is the truth:[g]

 

 

 

 

 

Many people, especially civil servants and bureaucrats, have taken an oath many times without giving solemn attention to their oath. Many people have taken an oath to "support the Constitution" who have never even read the entire Constitution. This is a violation of God's Law.

[g]. Exod. 20:7; Jer. 4:2; Lev. 19:12; Hos. 10:4

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Jeremiah 4:2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
Leviticus 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
see also:
Leviticus 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Hosea 10:4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

neither may any man bind himself by oath to anything but what is good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is able and resolved to perform.[h] [h]. Genesis 24:2,3,5,6,8,9; Neh. 5:12-13; Ecc. 5:2, 5

Gen. 24:2-9 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: {3} And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: {4} But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. {5} And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? {6} And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. {7} The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. {8} And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again. {9} And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
see also:
Nehemiah 5:12-13 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. {13} Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Ecclesiastes 5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Yet it is a sin to refuse an oath touching any thing that is good and just, being imposed by lawful authority.[i] [i]. Numb 5:19, 21; Neh. 5:12; Exod. 22:7-11

Numbers 5:19 And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: {21} Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell;
Nehemiah 5:12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
Exodus 22:7-11 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double. {8} If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. {9} For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour. {10} If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: {11} Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation.[k] [k]. Jer. 4:2; Ps. 24:4

Jeremiah 4:2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
Psalm 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

It cannot oblige to sin; but in anything not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to a man's own hurt.[l] [l]. I Sam. 25:22, 32-34; Ps. 15:4

1 Samuel 25:22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.{32} And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: {33} And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. {34} For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
Psalm 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

Nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or infidels.[m] [m]. Ezek. 17:16-19; Josh. 9:18-19; II Sam. 21:1

Ezekiel 17:16-19 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. {17} Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons: {18} Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. {19} Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
Joshua 9:18-19 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. {19} But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
with
2 Samuel 21:1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.


5. A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like faithfulness.[n] [n]. Isa. 19:21; Ecc. 5:4-6; Ps. 61:8; Ps. 66:13-14; and also Num. 30:2.

Isaiah 19:21 And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.
Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. {5} Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. {6} Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Psalm 61:8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
Psalm 66:13-14 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, {14} Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
see also:
Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

6. It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone:[o] [o].Ps. 76:11; Jer. 44:25,26; and also  Ps. 50:14; Ps. 116:14.

Psalm 76:11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
Jeremiah 44:25-26 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. {26} Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.
and also:
Psalm 116:14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want, whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties: or, to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto.[p] [p]. Deut. 23:21-23; Gen. 28:20-22; I Sam. 1:11; Ps. 66:13-14; Ps. 132:2-5

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. {22} But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. {23} That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Genesis 28:20-22 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, {21} So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: {22} And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
1 Samuel 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
Psalm 66:13-14 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, {14} Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
Psalm 132:2-5 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; {3} Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; {4} I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, {5} Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.

7. No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God.[q] [q]. Acts 23:12-14; Mark 6:26; Num. 30:5, 8, 12-13

Acts 23:12-14 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. {13} And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. {14} And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
Mark 6:26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
Numbers 30:5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. {8} But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her. {12}But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her. {13} Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

In which respects, popish monastic vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.[r]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When a priest takes a "popish monastic vow of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience" to the Pope, we call it his "ordination vows." He becomes a priest for life.

Yet when someone is inaugurated President, he takes an "oath of office" and holds office for four years.

Do you know why one is called a vow and the other an oath?

[r]. Matt. 19:11-12; I Cor. 7:2, 9; Eph. 4:28; 1 Peter 4:2; I Cor. 7:23 and also I Thess. 4:11-12; Heb. 13:4.

Matthew 19:11-12 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. {12} For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. {9} But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
1 Peter 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
see also:
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; {12} That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.


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