Wisdom is the ability to discern what is right from what is wrong. If knowledge is power, then wisdom is using that power the right way. Malachi writes, “True instruction was in His mouth, and no wrong was found on His lips. He walked with me in peace …” (Malachi 2:6 ESV).

Can we understand this subject better by looking at other passages of Scripture?

In the beginning paragraphs of His sermon to the masses, Jesus took time to ponder the idea of making oaths before God – and before others. He has taught about being different – that our ideas about adultery, about stealing, and about murder need to fulfill the letter of the Law, but to uphold the ideas beyond the Law. Listen to the words of Jesus:

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one (Matthew 5:33-37 HCSB).

If the rabbis tended to be permissive in their attitude toward divorce, they were even further to the side of allowing speech to be liberal. It is another example of warping the teaching of the Old Testament in order to make it easier to obey. Jesus first looked at the Law, then how the Pharisees distorted the Law, and finally at the Law’s true implication.

While not quoting any particular law, Jesus seems to summarize its teaching. Strictly speaking, an oath was a speech where the speaker calls upon God to witness his vow and to punish him if he breaks it. Moses seems to have emphasized the evil of false swearing and the duty of performing an oath that one takes before the Lord. Here are a few examples:

  • You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (Exodus 20:7)
  • You shall not swear by My name falsely, and so profane the name of your God (Leviticus 19:12)
  • When a man vows a vow to the Lord, he shall not break his word (Numbers 30:2)
  • When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not be slack to pay it (Deuteronomy 23:21)

The statements are plain in their intention. Keep your word always. But if you make your promise to the Lord, the truth is even more important.

Do we do the same thing today? “God, if you only get me through this … I will never miss church again.” Is bargaining with God the same as taking an oath before Him? Are we as lax in thinking we should follow through and keep our word to Him?

Listen to what the Bible says about keeping your word (Ephesians 4:25 NIV, Colossians 3:17 NIV, Ecclesiastes 5:5 NIV, Numbers 30:2 NIV). When it is just a matter of keeping your word, are you bridging or widening the credibility gap?