Should a Christian Swear?

Should A Christian Swear?

Some may wonder about this question as being very obvious and needing no explanation at all. Of course “Swearing” and “Cursing” are not the same thing. If someone is using profanity or better described as ‘cursing’ this is condemned by the New Testament in many places ( Phil 4:8, Eph. 5:4, Matt 12:34). But we will deal with the topic of swearing as described to proclaiming truth such as in a court of law.

Matthew 5:33-37

33.  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.

Ex. 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.

Matthew 26:69-74

69. Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

70. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

71. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

72.  And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

73.  And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

74. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

I. SWEARING (Matt. 5:33-37; Exo. 20:7; Matt. 26:74)

To “swear,” according to Webster, means: (1) To declare solemnly in the name of God, or of someone or something held sacred: (2) To pledge or vow under oath: and (3) To use profane or blasphemous language: to curse.

In His “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus gave the subject full coverage, beginning with “forswearing,” which means to swear falsely, or to commit perjury. “Perjury” is breaking a legitimate oath or promise: and in law, willfully telling a lie while under oath to tell the truth. Jesus forbade forswearing, of course, going on to say that a reverent appeal to God as a witness to the truth of words being spoken, or to the validity of a business transaction, was sufficient. If one has a reputation for honesty, his yes or no (yea, or nay) is all that is necessary. In legal matters where the law requires an “oath” (in the United States at least), one may request to affirm rather than swear. Webster notes that some may swear by “someone or something held sacred,” such as God, Christ, heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or one’s own head, as Jesus designates. He says it becomes “evil” to go beyond the yea or nay. He indicates that the ultimate solution is, “Swear not at all.”

The matter of oath-taking for lodge membership is just another objection to belonging to a lodge, especially since the obligation usually entails wrongdoing.

The Third Commandment: Taking the Lord’s name in vain includes all that has been said previously on “swearing,” but it also forbids using God’s name profanely. It is not to be used in relation to secular matters or in any irreverent way. “In vain” would be without legitimate, relative purpose. Matthew Henry says that can be done: (1) By using God’s name hypocritically; (2) by covenant-breaking; or (3) by using His name carelessly, profanely, or vulgarly.

The last “vain” use is usually called cursing. However, cursing may mean blasphemously calling down a curse, an evil, or an injury upon someone “in the name of” God. This might be done in sorcery or witchcraft.

In Peter’s denial of Christ and that he was one of His disciples, he first “denied with an oath:” then he “began to curse (profanity) and swear.” Some hold that he “wished a curse on himself” if he were not telling the truth-which indeed he was not! Adam Clarke says the proper reading should be, “He began positively to affirm” that he did not know Christ. Whatever the meaning, it stands as a warning not to curse, swear, or lie, lest “the crowing of the cock” should find us backslidden! Thank God, Jesus knew in advance what Peter was going to do. Somewhat “out of the blue,” He had said to the apostle:

“…Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31, 32).

Jesus had already prayed that Peter’s faith would not utterly fail. However. He knew that Peter would go so far that he would need to be “converted.” Certainly Jesus’ prayer was answered when “Peter went out, and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). It was a “narrow escape,” and, sad to say, all do not find that “way of escape” which God makes for those who are tempted! (See 1 Corinthians 10:12, 13.)

In the Book of Hebrews, the writer deals with swearing and states that the only person who can guarantee anything without fail is God.

Hebrews 6:13-19

13.  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16. For men verily swear by the greater (by God): and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

19. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

And James tells us that we are to say, “Lord willing,” about plans for they can be changed by many circumstance out of our control (James 4:13-17). When people swear to G-D it is an indication the vast majority of the time that they are actually lying, and have trouble with telling the truth, and being believed by the parties they are attempting to convince of their story.

If you have never accepted or if you have fallen away from Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:

You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And tell someone what Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)  

May God through Christ bless you!

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