Lord’s Day 37
Q102. May we also swear by saints or other creatures?
No. A legitimate oath means calling upon God as the one who knows my heart to witness to my truthfulness and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature is worthy of such honor.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Romans 9:1
“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,”
2 Corinthians 1:23
“Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.”
Matthew 5:34–37
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
Matthew 23:16–22
“Woe unto you, blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. fools and blind: for whether greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.”
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.”
Modernized Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
In the first and second commandments, God shaped the mind and heart for His worship. In the third and fourth, He addresses the outward conduct and actions of the body.
The third commandment has two parts: a prohibition and a threat. It first forbids any rash or thoughtless use of God's name, and indeed every form of abuse of that name, whether through falsehood, vanity, or triviality, whenever such use casts reproach on God or fails to honor His glory. The name of God carries several distinct meanings in Scripture.
1. The attributes of God. "Why is it that you ask after my name?" "Say this to the children of Israel: The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you; this is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered throughout all generations." "The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name" (Gen 32:29; Exod 3:15; 15:3).