Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Note: Today we return to chapter five. We have explored the forgotten verses in chapter four. James has been admonishing us to avoid making boasts about what we will do. Instead, preface every thought with, “If it is the Lord’s will… This ties in nicely with today’s passage.
What kind of swearing is James talking about? Do we still swear in the way James uses the word?
The traditional definition of “swear” is to make a solemn statement or vow promising to do something or affirming something is true. The functional definition in common use today is to express contempt with what is known as a “four-letter word.” (Sadly, the use of “swear words” has become so common that some people are hardly able to speak without using them.)
James is referring to the use of an affirmation or vow. So why would such a statement condemn us?
As James looks into the face of God he sees a being whose knowledge of the Truth is absolute. James has realized that no human can know the truth as God knows the truth. All human knowledge is flawed. Job points to this when he says, “Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?” (Job 21: 22)
Since our knowledge is limited, any affirmation of truth is subject to our human limitations. If we cannot validate our vows or affirmation, what good are they without God? If we rely on our own knowledge, will not God be the standard we are compared to in the Day of Judgment?
Application: Take James’ advice: “All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ’No.’”
Food for Thought: Where does the desire to swear come from?
Not all vow making is bad. We make vows at weddings to show the serious and significance of the covenant we are entering. God had Israel make covenant vows. But often the desire to swear can hide an attempt to deceive. I think Jesus pointed this out better than I can. Matthew 5: 33 – 37: “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
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Exactly Rich.
I was going to say something similar to Rich but he beat me to it by a few months and he said it better.