The False Teaching
Catholic: In
counseling men "not to swear at all" (Matt. v., 34) Christ meant, as
the Fathers and ecclesiastical writers explain, to be so truthful that
men could believe them without need of oath to confirm what they say.
He did not forbid the use of oaths under proper conditions, when
necessary to satisfy others of our truthfulness.
Southern
Baptist: (Robertson's Word Pictures). Swear not at all (mh omosai olwß)
More exactly "not to swear at all" (indirect command, and aorist
infinitive). Certainly Jesus does not prohibit oaths in a court of
justice for he himself answered Caiaphas on oath. Paul made solemn
appeals to God.
Westminster
Confession: 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; so a lawful
oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such matters, ought to be
taken.
Go
here for more deception.
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Exposing the Error
The
Catholic view that oaths are approved When
necessary to satisfy others
of our truthfulness tells it all. It is an admission that they
are not
so truthful that men believe them
without an oath. A disciple of Jesus needs not
to satisfy anyone of truthfulness!
Many say, with the Baptists, that Jesus took an
oath before Caiaphas (Mt. 26:63). Did he?
And the chief priest said
to him: I adjure you
by the zoe-living God
that you tell us if you are the Christ the son of God. Jesus says to him: You said [it]. Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter will you see the son of man
sitting at the right hand of power and coming upon the clouds of
heaven. Jesus did not answer Caiaphas on oath!
The oath applied to the question that Jesus flung back at him, You
said. Then with the I
say he affirms himself as the son of man
- not what Caiaphas asked. Yes, one finds warrant for the oath in both
New Testament (Paul) and Old (Moses) per the Westminster
Confession, as Calvinist say -- but not in
Jesus.
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Declaring the Truth
Hear the Good Shepherd:
Again you have heard that it was said to the
ancients: You shall
not swear falsely, but you will perform your oaths to the Lord. But I
say to you do not swear at
all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne, nor by earth, for it is his footstool,
nor Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king, neither by your own head, for you are
not able to make one hair white or black. Let your word yes [be] yes [and] no
[be] no, and what is more
than this is from the wicked [one] (Mt.5:33-37).
The
phrase, do not swear at all allows no exceptions.
When anyone makes exceptions, the last phrase confirms the source: .. what is more than this is from the
wicked [one]. Our
Lord commands us to say Yes
or No. He has taught us
that what is more than this is
from the
wicked one. It
follows that all additions to Yes
and No are from the wicked
one.
All who make additions declare their origin! That they do not
Love
the Lord is clear: If you agape-love me, you will keep my
commandments. More
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