What constitutes a vow?

Question: Hi Jeffrey, What constitutes a vow is something I’ve been trying to understand. Can you help me understand from the Bible why you say it’s a commitment witnessed by others? It seems like these thoughts I have could be considered rash vows, or they could not be vows at all. I think of them…

Read More

Does not being hasty in your heart mean that thoughts can be vows?

Question: Hello again, I’ve read again about what’s considered vowing, and saw a sentence in Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.” Does the heart part mean after all, that our thoughts about vowing are taken as vows after all? Thank…

Read More

Can a Christian swear an oath on a Bible?

Question: Can a Christian place his hand on the Bible and swear an oath of any kind? Or, raise his right hand and swear to tell the truth, in a courtroom? Or, can a Christian swear, anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances? I find a difference in the word ‘affirm’ and the word ‘swear.’ What saith…

Read More

Promises, Promises

Text: Matthew 23:16-22   I.         In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus refers to a old and seemingly popular statement – Matthew 5:33             A.        This and the other five quotes are introduced by the phrase “You have heard it was said to those of old”                         1.         This is not the usual way that Jesus quotes from the Old…

Read More

What happens if you swear to tell the truth, but you don’t?

Question: What happens if you put your hand on the Bible and someone asks you a question to reply to and you swear to God you are telling the truth, but you don’t? Answer: Jesus stated, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil…

Read More