Faith Filled Family Magazine April 2017 | Page 51

enough weight to prevent them from straying ?

In these situations , did the oath or vow serve any real purpose as it did not ensure its intended purpose ?

I grew up in a farming community when a person ’ s word with a handshake meant more than a contract . While certain legalities would follow in transactions , those legal steps satisfied the government or the bank . The handshake settled the matter between the two parties . Period . No oath or vow necessary .

In Matthew 5:33-37 , Jesus makes a rather pointed statement about oaths and vows . He first quotes from Leviticus 19:12 – “ Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God . I am the Lord .” Jesus then offers His instructions not to take oaths at all , but simply “ let your ‘ yes ’ be ‘ yes ’ and your ‘ no ’ be no .’” The book of James echoes these words in 5:12 . The face value of your word should not require any additional embellishment . As in a farming community , one ’ s word stands as more than sufficient evidence that covers both the intent of the commitment and the action that results from one ’ s promise .

Oaths and vows . To take them or not to take them ?

So , what should a Christian say on the witness stand ?

Or at the wedding altar ?

Or any other place that may ask for an oath or a vow ?

As with any Biblical passage , we must consider the context for help in interpretation as meaning does depend upon context . For one who would insist on the literal meaning of Jesus ’ words , we need only move back a few verses to Matthew 5:27-30 where Jesus teaches about adultery . If Christians fulfilled His words literally , most of us , if not all of us , would walk around without a right hand or a right eye since , at some time , the look of the right eye or the action of the right hand could lead to adultery .