Admin
|
On Oaths and Vows (addressing YET ANOTHER false claim)
Posted : 19 Oct, 2013 02:22 AM
"Do not take any vows or oaths. Vows and oaths are ALWAYS SATANIC!."
This is pure hogwash. Does anyone actually believe that taking a wedding vow before God is "Satanic". How about vowing to tell the truth in court? Is that "Satanic"? What about an elected official who vows to fulfill his office? Is that "Satanic", too? Gimme a break.
The Hebrew "neder", a vow, is used in the Bible for a promise made to God to perform some deed as well as for a prohibition which a person imposes upon himself to abstain from something which is otherwise permitted. The former is contrasted in the Mishnah with the nedavah, the free will offering (Kin. 1:1) while the latter is differentiated from the shevu'ah, the oath. The distinction between these two appears to be largely technical, but it has far-reaching consequences in the practical sphere. In the vow the person prohibits the thing to himself by declaring, "I take upon myself"; in the oath he prohibits himself to the thing by saying, "I swear to do this, or not to do this." It is with the second category, of vow, that the Talmud largely concerns itself, and to which this entry is confined.The enormous importance of the vow and its serious consequences are reflected in the fact that a whole tractate of the Talmud, consisting of 11 chapters in the Mishnah and 91 folios in the Gemara, is devoted to it (see *Nedarim), excluding the Nazirite vow, to which a separate tractate is devoted. --Babylonian Talmud
Let's see what the Bible actually teaches on this subject. Here is a sampling of Scripture:
Here is the underlying foundational warning:
Exod 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."
Lev. 19:12
And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Here are the biblical laws of vowing:
Numbers: 30: 1-16
And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded. 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. If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father�s house in her youth; And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. 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. And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 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. But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. And if she vowed in her husband�s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath; And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 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. Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father�s house.
Deut 6:13
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
Here is Adam Clarke commenting:
" Shalt swear by his name. "tishshabea", from "shaba", he was full, satisfied, or gave that which was full or satisfactory. Hence an oath and swearing, because appealing to God, and taking him for witness in any case of promise, c., gave full and sufficient security for the performance and if done in evidence, or to the truth of any particular fact, it gave full security for the truth of that evidence. An oath, therefore, is an appeal to God, who knows all things, of the truth of the matter in question: and when a religious man takes such an oath, he gives full and reasonable satisfaction that the thing is so, as stated; for it is ever to be presumed that no man, unless in a state of the deepest degradation, would make such an appeal falsely, for this would imply an attempt to make God a party in the deception."
Some additional principles to observe when vowing:
Deut. 23:21-22
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. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.
Eccl. 5:4-5
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. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Some men and women of God who took vows:
Acts 18:18
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
Gen: 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, So that I come again to my father�s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 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.
NOTICE: We see God affirm Jacob's vow here: " I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred."
Judg 11:30
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD , and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,
1 Sam. 1:9-11
9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD . And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD , and wept sore. 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 rasor come upon his head.
2 Sam. 15: 7-8
And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD , in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
Ps 61:5
For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
Ps 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.
Ps. 132: 1-2
A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions: How he sware unto the LORD , and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob
Isa 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.
Jonah 1:16
Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD , and made vows.
Here are some observations from these passages:
1. Taking a vow is Biblical. It is NOT Satanic.
2. A vow is to be taken unto God (the Lord) alone.
3. When one takes a vow to God, they must repay it.
4. It is a sin not to repay a vow.
5. If you do not take a vow, it is not a sin.
Here is the Westminster Confession of Faith on the subject:
Westminster Confession of Faith 22 � Lawful Oaths and Vows
I. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, 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.
II. 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. 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. 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; so a lawful oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such matters, ought to be taken.
III. 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: 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. [Yet it is a sin to refuse an oath touching any thing that is good and just, being imposed by lawful authority.]
IV. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation. It cannot oblige to sin; but in anything not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to a man�s own hurt. Nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or infidels.
V. 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.
VI. It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone: 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.
VII. 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. In which respects, popish monastical 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.
OBJECTIONS:
Jesus changed the law. He commanded us NOT to take oaths and vows. Appealing to Matt 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; But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
First, let's lay out a foundational principle. Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. (Matt 5: 17-19). Clearly, the O.T. laws concerning oaths and vows came from God. God would not command that we should "swear by his name" (Deut 6:13 ) and lay out laws governing how we are to do it (Numbers: 30: 1-16) only to turn around and forbid it.
So, what is Jesus teaching in Matt 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"
In simple terms, do not commit perjury or swear falsely. This confirms the law of Lev. 19:12. It does not change it.
Rabbi Akiba taught that "a man might swear with his lips, and annul it in his heart; and then the oath was not binding." This was typical of the problems that existed among the Jews at the time.
Jesus then goes on to say in Vs. 34-37 that they were not to swear at all by "heaven, earth, Jerusalem, or their own heads". Why is that? Because they were only to swear by the name of God. Deut 6:13 "Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name." The Jews had made a common practice out of swearing on a variety of things in order to escape being bound to their oaths/vows as Jesus is affirming. For example, "If any adjure another by heaven or earth, he is not guilty." TALMUD. Jesus is explaining to them why this is not true.
Here is Adam Clarke commenting:
"That the Jews were notoriously guilty of common swearing is allowed on all hands; and that swearing by heaven, earth, Jerusalem, the temple, the altar, different parts of the body, was not considered by them as binding oaths, has been sufficiently proved."
"But let your communication be yea, yea,...."
Here is Dr. Gill commenting:
That is, let your speech, in your common conversation, and daily business of life, when ye answer to anything in the affirmative, be "yea"; and when ye answer to anything in the negative, "nay": and for the stronger asseveration of the matter, when it is necessary, double these words; but let no oaths be joined unto them: this is enough; a righteous man's yea, is yea, and his no, is no; his word is sufficient. Hence it appears, that our Lord is here speaking of rash swearing, and such as was used in common conversation, and is justly condemned by him.
CONCLUSION: ""Do not take any vows or oaths. Vows and oaths are ALWAYS SATANIC!." is total hogwash.
Post Reply
|
