Can you take back a promise to God?

Jeffwhosoever · Aug 27, 2021

From my Bible commentary (see footnote below - the bold and italics are my own emphasis):

That this ideal should not be taken as a rigid rule, e.g. with reference to oaths in court, is suggested by Jesus’ own response when the High Priest ‘put him on oath’ (26:63–64), and by occasional ‘oaths’ in the New Testament (2 Cor. 1:23; Gal. 1:20; cf. 1 Thess. 5:27); even God can use an oath (Heb. 6:13–17). But Jesus goes on to repudiate the use of ‘second-class’ oaths which avoid the name of God (and therefore are not binding)

France, R. T. (1985). Matthew: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 1, p. 130). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Jeffwhosoever · Aug 27, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
I haven’t been officially diagnosed but I’ve had the symptoms my whole life. Anyway it was an intrusive thought process but I am still worried that I meant to make a promise. I know he forgives though, appreciate it

My advice is to say a prayer that admits your mistake, ask for forgiveness, and do not make such promises in the future (and don't promise that to the Lord either because that would be another oath). Just tell the Lord you will do your best to not make promises in the future. The Lord is a God of justice and understanding, so He knows your heart better than anyone, and He knows your condition better than anyone. The Lord said many times to "repent" so that is the best advice I can give. Admit your mistake, tell the Lord you will do your best to not make promises in the future, and then do your best to avoid making oaths in anyone's name, especially in the Lord's name.

One reason for not making oaths is that the Lord is sovereign and He is in control, and we mere mortals cannot control everything as the Lord can do. I could promise not to be in debt, but then wind up being sued by someone for some unforeseen reason, then I'm in debt despite my thinking it could never happen. So the Lord tells us just to say yes and no, because He is ultimately in charge, not us.

TzephanYahu · Aug 28, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
The vow was utterly foolish. How would I know I am forgiven?

You've shown on this forum before all of us your repentance. I feel that you're gutted, sorry and concerned about the matter and that's good because surely He sees all this as well, and more.

I would pray frankly to Him about the matter. Explain you were foolish and that you didn't understand the seriousness of vows at the time you made it, but now you do. Ask that if, by His mercy, He may release you of the foolish vow, in the name of the Messiah. If you are holding anyone to their word or have been bitter towards someone breaking a vow in the past, forgive them.

You'll know if you're forgiven within your heart - whether you feel light (free) or heavy (sorrowful) after. If you still feel heavy continue in prayer over the next week or so.

May Yahweh grant you with forgiveness and peace on this matter, which I believe He will. Only don't let this incident pass you by lightly. Listen to the "rhythm" of these events and understand the deeper lessons you are being taught through this dilemma.

Love & Shalom

eleos1954 · Aug 28, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
The vow was utterly foolish. How would I know I am forgiven?

If you ask to be forgiven with a sincere heart (for any sin) you ARE forgiven. Pray for the Lord to help you from doing it in the future (repent) .... turn away from it.

Docbrown1985 · Aug 28, 2021

TzephanYahu said:
You've shown on this forum before all of us your repentance. I feel that you're gutted, sorry and concerned about the matter and that's good because surely He sees all this as well, and more.

I would pray frankly to Him about the matter. Explain you were foolish and that you didn't understand the seriousness of vows at the time you made it, but now you do. Ask that if, by His mercy, He may release you of the foolish vow, in the name of the Messiah. If you are holding anyone to their word or have been bitter towards someone breaking a vow in the past, forgive them.

You'll know if you're forgiven within your heart - whether you feel light (free) or heavy (sorrowful) after. If you still feel heavy continue in prayer over the next week or so.

May Yahweh grant you with forgiveness and peace on this matter, which I believe He will. Only don't let this incident pass you by lightly. Listen to the "rhythm" of these events and understand the deeper lessons you are being taught through this dilemma.

Love & Shalom

I can’t remember what I thought exactly of vows but I may have understood the seriousness.

Does he truly forgive someone who knowingly abandons their promise though? I can’t seem to find any verses that would support it

Docbrown1985 · Aug 28, 2021

Jeffwhosoever said:
My advice is to say a prayer that admits your mistake, ask for forgiveness, and do not make such promises in the future (and don't promise that to the Lord either because that would be another oath). Just tell the Lord you will do your best to not make promises in the future. The Lord is a God of justice and understanding, so He knows your heart better than anyone, and He knows your condition better than anyone. The Lord said many times to "repent" so that is the best advice I can give. Admit your mistake, tell the Lord you will do your best to not make promises in the future, and then do your best to avoid making oaths in anyone's name, especially in the Lord's name.

One reason for not making oaths is that the Lord is sovereign and He is in control, and we mere mortals cannot control everything as the Lord can do. I could promise not to be in debt, but then wind up being sued by someone for some unforeseen reason, then I'm in debt despite my thinking it could never happen. So the Lord tells us just to say yes and no, because He is ultimately in charge, not us.

Thank you, I’m just concerned I’m continuing in sin by choosing to forget the promise. The Bible seems to be clear we should fulfill promises so even though logically I think God would forgive I’m worried it’s not the case

FutureAndAHope · Aug 28, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
If someone makes a promise to God that they regret making, can they take it back and be forgiven?

The Bible states that we should fulfill our vows but what if someone made a foolish promise or doesn’t want to complete it?

Obviously if one cannot fulfill it any longer there’s nothing they can do, but I am confused on how this situation works if they still can.

Will God forgive this and release one of a foolish promise or must a person fulfill their vow to be forgiven?

The bible says:

Mat 5:37 When you make a promise, say only "Yes" or "No." Anything else comes from the devil.

From this, we see that the devil often tries to trap us in foolish oaths.

I believe God understands that we fail sometimes in these types of silly oaths. An oath, or vow, to my knowledge, in the Old Testament, was a procedural thing, it was a very important contract either verbal or witnessed.

God will forgive us if we fail in oath keeping, yet if it is in our power, and not hurtful to us we should try to keep it. However, if the oath is hurtful to us, emotionally, or physically, I believe it has come from Satan's desire, and God will overlook it.

TzephanYahu · Aug 29, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
Does he truly forgive someone who knowingly abandons their promise though? I can’t seem to find any verses that would support it

If you want me to be honest, no, I don't know of anywhere in Scripture where this is supported but rather to the contrary. I could be wrong though.

But it's good you know this. It would be tragic if you thought "ah, God doesn't really care!" You have shown wisdom in that you fear God in your error, so there's much hope, from my perspective.

In such times like these we need to have faith in His mercy and understanding of us as foolish people. There is no sin than cannot be forgiven, save blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That said, don't make another vow from today and seek peace with Him in prayer.

It could be that this is a lesson for you that you need to go through. So listen to the heartbeat of your situation to try to understand what went wrong, why, when and what buult your motives. Listen to the problem beneath the surface - and set your heart and ways aright.

Perhaps it would be wise to meditate of Psam 51 until you feel your heart stirred to pray. Don't expect to be at peace straight way. Yahweh isn't a genie that you can rub the lamp and He is happy again. Rather, walk with your heart "in sackcloth and ashes" before Him and I trust He will lift your head up soon than you expect.

I say this with confidence as Yahweh is good and merciful and you understand the severity of your issue and fear Him, like a wise man. Just pour your heart out to Him rather than bottle it up before Him.

1 John 1:9

andreha · Aug 29, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
If someone makes a promise to God that they regret making, can they take it back and be forgiven?

The Bible states that we should fulfill our vows but what if someone made a foolish promise or doesn’t want to complete it?

Obviously if one cannot fulfill it any longer there’s nothing they can do, but I am confused on how this situation works if they still can.

Will God forgive this and release one of a foolish promise or must a person fulfill their vow to be forgiven?

This is a tough one...

Myself, I try to refrain from making any promises, because I know I'm only flesh and blood. I rather ask the Lord to help me in doing His will. But this is not about me.

Ok, so you made a promise to God, and now you can't keep it. I would seek the face of God in deep submission and prayerful request for help. I would plead with Him to release me, and forgive me, and also repent from making promises to Him again, confessing that I'm mere flesh and blood, that I'm but a mere spec of dust before His infinite greatness and power. :prayer:

Docbrown1985 · Aug 30, 2021

TzephanYahu said:
If you want me to be honest, no, I don't know of anywhere in Scripture where this is supported but rather to the contrary. I could be wrong though.

But it's good you know this. It would be tragic if you thought "ah, God doesn't really care!" You have shown wisdom in that you fear God in your error, so there's much hope, from my perspective.

In such times like these we need to have faith in His mercy and understanding of us as foolish people. There is no sin than cannot be forgiven, save blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That said, don't make another vow from today and seek peace with Him in prayer.

It could be that this is a lesson for you that you need to go through. So listen to the heartbeat of your situation to try to understand what went wrong, why, when and what buult your motives. Listen to the problem beneath the surface - and set your heart and ways aright.

Perhaps it would be wise to meditate of Psam 51 until you feel your heart stirred to pray. Don't expect to be at peace straight way. Yahweh isn't a genie that you can rub the lamp and He is happy again. Rather, walk with your heart "in sackcloth and ashes" before Him and I trust He will lift your head up soon than you expect.

I say this with confidence as Yahweh is good and merciful and you understand the severity of your issue and fear Him, like a wise man. Just pour your heart out to Him rather than bottle it up before Him.

1 John 1:9

So you’re saying it’s safe to assume he will forgive even though it’s never explicitly said?

MikeinSeattle · Aug 30, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
Where is it established that one doesn’t have to keep vows? I see Matthew 5:33-37 says do not swear at all, but I don’t know if it necessarily releases you from previous vows.

Matt 5 doesnt release you from anything. The release from all the laws of the old covenant is in Christs words that He was establishing a new covenant as I explained in my 1st reply.

The new covenant that replaces the old is spoken of even before Christ came.

Jer 31
31“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

If you are asking where it was established in the Old covenant that vows could be anuuled it is in
Leviticus 5:4

TzephanYahu · Aug 30, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
So you’re saying it’s safe to assume he will forgive even though it’s never explicitly said?

Well it is never wise to assume forgiveness. Yahweh might choose not to forgive something if He wishes. "I wish show mercy to whom I will show I mercy". So it's wrong to assume forgiveness is always available.

That said, we can hooe and approach Him humbly for forgiveness and He may well forgive you if you show true repentance and sincerity.

But when you say "it's not explicitly said", if you mean in the Bible, then sure it's not said. But then again many things are not said but implied. So don't worry about that.

I guess what I'm basically getting at is to have the right heart towards Yahweh and He will be good to you. You wouldn't like to be wronged and have the offender show up thinking "yeah yeah, you'll forgive me!" and I'm sure the Father wouldn't also.

I hope I'm making sense.

aiki · Aug 31, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
If someone makes a promise to God that they regret making, can they take it back and be forgiven?

Why is the promise regretted? Is it a promise that should never have been made in the first place? If so, what about God makes you think He wants you to fulfill such a promise?

Docbrown1985 said:
The Bible states that we should fulfill our vows but what if someone made a foolish promise or doesn’t want to complete it?

I can't imagine that every promise we could make to God would be one that He would want us to keep. In fact, some promises that could be made would be enormously offensive to God, like promising to kill the next person who walks on your beautiful, expensively-maintained lawn; or promising to cut off your lips the next time you curse; or vowing to walk naked down the main street of your town if God will keep the plane you're flying in from crashing, and so on. These sorts of stupid vows God knows are stupid. They're made rashly, thoughtlessly, and are not at all pleasing to Him. Keeping them would not, then, honor God which is the highest good believers are always aiming at (or should be).

Docbrown1985 said:
Obviously if one cannot fulfill it any longer there’s nothing they can do, but I am confused on how this situation works if they still can.

Will God forgive this and release one of a foolish promise or must a person fulfill their vow to be forgiven?

It suggests one has a dark, warped view of God, a view of Him that sees Him as harsh, severe, irrationally-demanding, that one believes He would be honored and glorified by the keeping of a foolish vow. Especially if this vow was made under the impulse of an obsessive-compulsive moment, provoked by fear rather than by a love of God, the patient, merciful, compassionate, faithful God revealed in the Bible, who moved to save each of us when we were His enemies, bound in sin, selfish and blind, will not shrink back from us in displeasure, angry that we are breaking a foolish vow we should never have made in the first place.

I suggest you read the following passages:

Matthew 22:35-38 & 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 John 4:16-19
Ephesians 2:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:31

EpicScore · Sep 1, 2021

God allows provisions to get out of recklessly made vows (Leviticus 5:4-5), although there is a consequence/payment still to be made to renege on those promises to keep you from making more thoughtless oaths.

That being said, do reflect on why you want back away from the promise you've made. Is it because the promise itself is something evil or stupid, or because you find that keeping it is too costly?

If the first, perhaps think of ways to repay that broken promise as a reminder to not be so reckless with your words in the future. Perhaps spend a day fasting, or give a monetary offering, or whatever. And if it's the second, consider why you think the price is to high to surrender to God, and repent for your idolatry.

God does and will forgive ur sins if you are contrite and confess it to the Lord (Psalm 51:17; 1 John 1:9), but this promise is not a license for you to be careless with your conduct, but to understand and taste God's grace and mercy so that you can overcome your weakness and grow in Christlikeness.

splish- splash · Sep 5, 2021

Trust that God's Grace is sufficient and move on from it completely, since you've spoken to God about it.

biblelesson · Sep 11, 2021

Docbrown1985 said:
If someone makes a promise to God that they regret making, can they take it back and be forgiven?

The Bible states that we should fulfill our vows but what if someone made a foolish promise or doesn’t want to complete it?

Obviously if one cannot fulfill it any longer there’s nothing they can do, but I am confused on how this situation works if they still can.

Will God forgive this and release one of a foolish promise or must a person fulfill their vow to be forgiven?

James 5:12, "But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation."

I listed the above verse because James is taking this from the Old Testament. Some of the old testament commands are carried over into the New Testament; therefore those are the ones we must abide by under the New Covenant.

However, if you have made a foolish vow and don't think you can fulfill it, then you should talk with God about it. Ask for forgiveness, and let Him guide you.

I made a vow, and thought I could keep it, but then realized I was not really abiding by what I said I would do. I prayed about, but continued to feel guilty whenever I thought about it. But guess what, one day I found myself able to keep it without any effort on my own. God made it possible for me to keep my vow, and I believe He did this because I really had a contrite heart about it, just like it seems you have. I was so grateful because I was relieved from guilt; and I saw how wonderful and gracious God is. He actually helped me keep my vow to Him.

So we have a loving God, and if you can't keep your vow, but really want to, but see no way to accomplish it, maybe God will do for you what He did for me. You can always ask Him.

God bless!

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