content/10/03.md
---
pagetitle: Of lawful oaths and vows, part 2
date: February 19, 2020
prev_url: /westminster-daily/10/02/
prev_date: Oct 2
this_url: /westminster-daily/10/03/
short_date: "1003"
this_date: Oct 3
next_url: /westminster-daily/10/04/
next_date: Oct 4
---
#### Confession of Faith
##### Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence.[^fnref:wcf1] Therefore, to swear vainly, or rashly, by that glorious and dreadful Name; or, to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred.[^fnref:wcf2] Yet, as in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the Word of God, under the new testament as well as under the old;[^fnref:wcf3] so a lawful oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such matters, ought to be taken.[^fnref:wcf4]
[^fnref:wcf1]: <div class="esv"><h5>Deuteronomy 6:13</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p05006013.01-1">It is the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wcf2]: <div class="esv"><h5>Exodus 20:7</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p02020007.01-1">“You shall not take the name of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God in vain, for the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.</p> </div><h5>Jeremiah 5:7</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p24005007.01-2">“How can I pardon you?<br /> <span class="indent"></span>Your children have forsaken me<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and have sworn by those who are no gods.<br /> When I fed them to the full,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>they committed adultery<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and trooped to the houses of whores.</p> </div> </div><h5>Matthew 5:34</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p40005034.01-3"><span class="woc">But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,</span></p> </div><h5>Matthew 5:37</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p40005037.01-4"><span class="woc">Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.</span></p> </div><h5>James 5:12</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p59005012.01-5">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. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wcf3]: <div class="esv"><h5>Hebrews 6:16</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p58006016.01-1">For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.</p> </div><h5>2 Corinthians 1:23</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p47001023.01-2">But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth.</p> </div><h5>Isaiah 65:16</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p23065016.01-3">So that he who blesses himself in the land<br /> <span class="indent"></span>shall bless himself by the God of truth,<br /> and he who takes an oath in the land<br /> <span class="indent"></span>shall swear by the God of truth;<br /> because the former troubles are forgotten<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and are hidden from my eyes. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wcf4]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Kings 8:31</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p11008031.01-1">“If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house,</p> </div><h5>Nehemiah 13:25</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p16013025.01-2">And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.</p> </div><h5>Ezra 10:5</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p15010005.01-3">Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>