Swear not at all.

InSpiritInTruth

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A couple of weeks ago I had something happen to me which some might find interesting, or useful, or maybe not. But several weeks ago I got a summons for jury service, which I really didn’t want to go to as most people don’t. But what really bothered me about going was something I read in the scriptures several years ago about not forswearing yourself to an oath, which is required for jury duty.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-3433 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; ….” And also in James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

I even did a little research on the matter, both in the scriptures and per man’s law and became convinced that this was something (in all good conscience) I just could not do. In Numbers 30:2 we read “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.” I then thought wow! That sounds pretty serious to bind ones soul with a bond by an oath.

Then I found in scripture that the word oath has the same meaning as the word curse. So then I’m thinking it’s like saying “to bind ones soul with the bond of a curse.” I then wondered how many people would agree to swearing to that kind of statement in a court of law?

Well after becoming convinced I couldn’t do such a thing I sent a letter back to the jury coordinator asking to be excused on the basis I couldn’t forswear any oath on account of my faith, and also on account that I thought it was against my rights under the constitution (involuntary servitude), which I figured wouldn’t fly. And it didn’t. I got a letter back from the jury coordinator explaining that she did not have the authority to excuse me for the reasons I stated, and if I didn’t show up on the date of the summons I would be held in contempt of court and fined $500.00. So even though it was against my own will, I felt I needed to go.

On the day of the summons I was thinking there might be 30 or 40 people there, and so standing up for my religious freedom in front of a small crowd wouldn’t be too bad when they throw me in jail for contempt of court. But when I got to the courthouse the parking lot it was full, and when I got to the courtroom there were hundreds of people there, which added to my anxiety.

So after a few minutes the judge stands up in front of everybody and says “now it’s time for you to be sworn in” and he asked everyone to raise their right hands (which I didn’t) and then he began his “Do you swear” oath. During this time the bailiff looks at me like “why ain’t your hand up?” And I just shook my head with a “no” gesture. Then when the judge got done with his words “so help you God” the whole crowd said a resounding “I do”.

But then it was my turn. I said “sir, excuse me, but I have to say… I don’t.” Then there was silence…… and I felt like every eye ball in the room was fixed right on me. Then the judge said “what is that?” I repeated “I have to say no to forswearing an oath on account of my faith”. And the judge said “what faith is that?” I said “my faith in the word of God which says for me not to forswear myself to an oath.”

Now I’m ready to start qoutin scriptures when the judge says “well, we also allow one to affirm an oath as well.” This response I was prepared for because I had studied the court laws concerning the matter. But found that affirming an oath is just another fancy rewording of swearing an oath, as it is also considered equal to swearing an oath by law; if it were not so they could not charge one with perjury under an oath.

And so I told the judge the same, that I could not affirm an oath either. Then I figured the contempt of court charge was soon coming, but to my surprise it didn’t. The judge then says to me, “well, will you try to tell the truth?” I said “sir, I try to tell the truth each and every day of my life, but I still cannot forswear myself, or even affirm myself to an oath to do so.” And the judge said “that’s good enough for me.”

Which really surprised me because I was expecting to be held in contempt of court, but I guess I got a reasonable judge. I know it will not always play out like this in most instances, as it depends on the judge I suppose. But I really wonder how many people realize just what it is they are doing when they forswear themselves to an oath? I believe sometimes the Devil is truly in the details, what do you think?
 
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ananda

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... Which really surprised me because I was expecting to be held in contempt of court, but I guess I got a reasonable judge. I know it will not always play out like this in most instances, as it depends on the judge I suppose. But I really wonder how many people realize just what it is they are doing when they forswear themselves to an oath? I believe sometimes the Devil is truly in the details, what do you think?
I doubt most people understand or even think about those details, or what they're swearing "yes" to, my friend.
 
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InSpiritInTruth

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jesus in the example given is discussing false oaths or oaths taken with the intention of not carrying them out.

How do I know this... because his Apostles continued to make and take oaths long into the book of Acts.


Steve

I believe swear not at all means just that, no matter how bad or good your intentions may be. Which is also why Jesus said this in Matthew 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Sometimes with the best of intentions we might not be able to perform an oath. Just as if a person said "I swear to God I'll be at your house tomorrow at 1:00 o'clock."

But the truth is (even with the best of intentions) you don't really know for sure what will happen between your oath and 1:00 o'clock tomorrow right? So it is better not to swear at all for our own sakes.
 
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InSpiritInTruth

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I doubt most people understand or even think about those details, or what they're swearing "yes" to, my friend.

I don't think they do either. If a man said to you "will you forsake your God and bow down to my god?" would that grab people's attention? I bet it would. But we know the serpent is more clever and cunning out of all the creatures God had made.
 
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ananda

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I don't think they do either. If a man said to you "will you forsake your God and bow down to my god?" would that grab people's attention? I bet it would. But we know the serpent is more clever and cunning out of all the creatures God had made.
Indeed. Things are more than meets the eye.
 
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InSpiritInTruth

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yet the disciples continued to engage in oath taking including the 12, Paul and other believers as well.


Steve

I can't speak for them, and if they performed their oaths they did well, but I'm still convinced it is better to swear not at all as Jesus said.
 
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Fireinfolding

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I have a question on this.

Can these be at all related?

For example here it says...

Numbers 30:2 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.

Whereas here it likewise says,

Duet 27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

But then here it also says,

Neh 10:29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

And likewise here it says...

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Well, because looking at the words in that numbers scenario, and being "bound" or "cursed" (even by the vow of ones lips) even in respects to Duet 27:26 & even as shown in Neh 10:29. And the being "disallowed" as well as "of none effect" (to ones soul) as it pertains to (and between) either the law (and of oaths) as the same wording seems shown in Christ (as they are used variously) are interesting. Christ also being disallowed of men (under the law) whereas he likewise become of none effect to those seeking to be justified by the law, where clearly no man justified by the same. Seems like more is there in that picture. Those more specifically I was looking at.
 
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InSpiritInTruth

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That's right Fire, by agreeing to keep all things in the law, you would also be putting yourself under the curse (oath) to always perform the law without flaw.:o

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

 
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ananda

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That's right Fire, by agreeing to keep all things in the law, you would also be putting yourself under the curse (oath) to always perform the law without flaw.:o ...
... not without flaw, but diligently ... e.g. Jos 22:5, Ex 15:26 cf Deu 6:17. Deu 11:13, 11:22, 28:1, Prov 119:4, etc.
 
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InSpiritInTruth

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... not without flaw, but diligently ... e.g. Jos 22:5, Ex 15:26 cf Deu 6:17. Deu 11:13, 11:22, 28:1, Prov 119:4, etc.

James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

That's why we need Christ (who kept the whole law for us ) and came to set us free from the bondage and curse.
 
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ananda

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James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

That's why we need Christ (who kept the whole law for us ) and came to set us free from the bondage and curse.

James is saying that if we break a commandment, we are guilty. However, diligently keeping the commandment, that is keeping the commandment. He didn't say anything about perfectly keeping the commandment. This is in harmony with Ex 15:26, Lev 10:16, Deu 4:9, 6:7, 6:17, 11:13, 11:22, 13:14, 17:4, 24:8, 28:1, Jos 22:5, Ezr 7:23, Jer 12:16, 17:24, Zec 6:15, 1Pe 1:10, 2Pe 3:14, Psa 119:4, etc.

Messiah did set us free from the bondage and curse of sin, to give us the freedom and ability to walk in faithful obedience. :clap:
 
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InSpiritInTruth

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Messiah did set us free from the bondage and curse of sin, to give us the freedom and ability to walk in faithful obedience. :clap:

Yes, the Lord is our righteousness, and He whom the Lord has set free is a freeman indeed. By God's Son (who now dwells in us) and by God's Holy Spirit we now have direction, and we now know the way we are called to walk; for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.:thumbsup:
 
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ananda

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Yes, the Lord is our righteousness, and He whom the Lord has set free is a freeman indeed. By God's Son (who now dwells in us) and by God's Holy Spirit we now have direction, and we now know the way we are called to walk; for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.:thumbsup:
Yet the free man is still under the rule of the King of Kings, no? He is free from the restraints (traditions, authority, color of law) of other men, but not from the the King's Law.
 
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seashale76

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I served on a federal jury around sixteen years ago- and I'm pretty certain they didn't have us make an oath as I'm against making them myself. I definitely would have remembered that- as I remember just about everything else we did.
 
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InSpiritInTruth

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Yet the free man is still under the rule of the King of Kings, no? He is free from the restraints (traditions, authority, color of law) of other men, but not from the the King's Law.

As Paul said (which I know you don't believe) "being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,"

We now have a New law written inwardly upon the tables of our hearts, which also bears witness to our conscience. (New Covenant)
 
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