Is a Promise the Same as an Oath?

[tuliplane]

Jesus said in Matthew 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:

34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Was He saying we shouldn't make promises because a promise is more than yes or no? Is a promise even the same thing as an oath? Is saying, “I promise” like saying “I will”, or is it just another kind of oath?

 

[Norah63]

It depends on how good and honest your word is.
Used to be a mans word or handshake was all you needed.

 

[fozzy]

Promise keeping, oath making and swearing are all old covenant concepts where sinful man goes about to establish his own righteousness by his works. Keeping your word is a good thing unless it is taken to the extreme. Many Christians feel like if they break their word it is a sin which is wrong. Christians are to put all the faith and trust in God's promises because they will never fail not our own. I watch a lot of movies and it seems like in every movie and tv show there is a main character who makes some promise at the beginning and the whole show is about how this person kept his promise all the way till the end. The world is evil and these are just stories of sinners who go about establishing their own righteousness independent of God. Faith is the opposite of this.

 

[walkinginthelightnow]

I made a vow to God and a few hours later regretted it. I coudn't back out of it because:

"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."

I knew I had to go through with it. I felt tormented all the way up to the date I said I would pay the vow. I went through with it but vowed to myself never to vow to God again.

 

[tuliplane]

walkinginthelightnow, the verse you posted is from the Old Testament. I've come to some realizations... Jesus wants us to be truthful, letting our yes mean yes and no mean no, but if we did make a vow that we regret we can ask his forgiveness and he'll forgive the vow.

Leviticus 5:4-6:
or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; 5 when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, 6 he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation[a] for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

People in the Old Testament were allowed to make sacrifices in payment for their vows. Jesus, though died and became the sacrifice. So you can see, our vows can be forgiven through Him. That doesn't mean we're supposed to make promises thinking we don't have to keep them cause Christ will forgive us; He does want our yes to mean yes, and no to mean no; but if we do make a vow we regret, Jesus will forgive.

I made a vow to God and a few hours later regretted it. I coudn't back out of it because:

"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."

I knew I had to go through with it. I felt tormented all the way up to the date I said I would pay the vow. I went through with it but vowed to myself never to vow to God again.