Can Christians Swear or Take Oaths - Zack Johnson - Followers of the Way

http://soundfaith.org/ https://chambersburgcf.com/ https://scrollpublishing.com/ Jesus rejects the default of untruthfulness and gives us the freedom to choose our commitments. -Swearing and oath-taking are different than vows, promises, contracts, and covenants -Oaths are the world’s substitute for consistent truthfulness -We get to choose our commitments every day -Oaths are a gateway to judgment 1. Swearing and oath-taking are different than vows, covenants, contracts, and promises Swearing and oath-taking have three general components a. Affirming the truthfulness of a statement b. Invoking a transcendent entity c. Invitation of punishment 1) Herod and John the Baptist - Matthew 14: 6-7: But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 2) Peter swears that he does not know the man Matthew 26: 72 -74 72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” 3) Jephthah kills his daughter Judges 11: 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” 4) Acts taking an oath to kill Paul Acts 23:12-14 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. ─────────────────────────────── Explore more on The Historic Faith: Church Government Q&A - What was the role of elders in the early church? Explore the historical evidence https://thehistoricfaith.com/courses-... Matthew Commentary - A commentary through the Gospel of Matthew enriched by insights from the early church https://thehistoricfaith.com/courses-... Free library of early Christian writings at https://thehistoricfaith.com