We are told in Scripture never to make promises to God, because we will not be able to keep them.
Ecc 5:5: Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
I don't find in Scripture that we are instructed "never to make promises to God". I just don't find it. Scripture warns me to be careful in making a promise to God. But it doesn't prohibit it.
Here's the verse immediately prior to the one you quoted,
Ecclesiastes 5:4
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
That doesn't seem to support the assertion that we are "never to make promises" to God.
I have made a promise to God. On the day I exchanged wedding vows with my spouse, I stood before God, at the altar, and made a solemn promise to Him. My wedding vow is a promise to God. And I don't find any prohibition in scripture against it.
Yes, scripture warns me to exercise caution in making promises to God, to be careful in what I say to God.
Matthew 6:7-8
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
If I want to find a prohibition in Scripture, I think it would be against "bargaining" with God. When I hear a testimony of someone making a deal with God, alarm bells go off in my head. I'm talking about the type of prayer that goes: "God, if you do [so and so to help me], then I will do [so and so to honor you]"
When I hear that, I get a strong sense that this is NOT the type of conversation God wants to have, not with me. I know God doesn't want to hear me proposing foolish bargains with Him.
I make a choice to honor God simply because He deserves all honor and praise, because He is, after all, the sovereign God. I choose to obey His will because He is king, because He is Lord of all.
When I hear of someone making a deal: "God, IF you do [this] THEN I will do [that]", I can't help hear the logical corollary: "God, IF you DON'T do [this] then I WON'T do [that]." And that is foolishness, plain and simple.
God expects me to do the right thing, no matter the circumstances He allows me to be in. I'm not in a position to blackmail God, to bend His will to mine, by threatening that my attitude and behavior is dependent on whether our sovereign God does what I want Him to do.
So, the prohibition in scripture is against foolishness. But it's not against making an earnest promise to God.
Chris wrote:
Hi Peter
the best scripture for not making vows at all is:-
Matt 5:33-37
Jesus Forbids Oaths
"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old,'You shall not swear falsely, but shall 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; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes ,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
NKJV
This is a pretty strong injunction to not make oaths.....even about our giving to God
Many people make vows of loyalty, etc which prevent them from acting in integrity....avoid all vows...and be free of manipulation and condemnation
regards in Christ
Chris
Chris,
In the passage you present (Matthew 5:33-37), Jesus seems to be speaking primarily about integrity. He is taking the letter of the law (the rules and regulations of the Old Testament), and is getting to the deeper meaning of the law (the "weightier matters of the law".)
The law says not to murder. In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus takes the law further. Jesus says that someone who has malicious intent towards a brother is already guilty of murder.
The law says do not commit adultery. In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus takes law further, and says that anyone who looks at a woman with lust is already guilty of adultery in his heart.
The law says do not break a vow to God or break an oath made before God.
Numbers 30:2
When a man makes a vow to God or binds himself by an oath to do something, he must not break his word; he must do exactly what he has said. (The Message)
In Matthew 5:34-37, Jesus takes the law further, and says that his followers are to be men and women of integrity. Jesus is warning disciples to be honest in all of their words, all of the time. God expects them to keep their word, to do what they say they will do. Jesus is warning them not to dress up anything they say as being "especially honest" or somehow "more truthful" than anything else they say.
Matthew 5:33-37
"And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, 'I'll pray for you,' and never doing it, or saying, 'God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong. (The Message)
This same idea is echoed in James 5:12
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. (ESV) James 5:12So, Matthew 5:33-37 is really telling me that every word I say is a promise to God. This passage says that I am going to be held accountable for all of my words. I am warned against adorning any of my words as a religious vow or oath, and warned against allowing any of my words to defile my integrity.
But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned. (NLT) James 5:12
And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don't add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don't show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can't be used against you. (The Message) James 5:12
As far as this passage being a "strong injunction not to make oaths" (as you claim), I suppose the passage could be construed that way. But I think that misses the main point of this passage. Everything I say is a promise to God or a promise made before God. He already considers what I say to Him as a vow, and what I say to others as a solemn oath. I see that as the main point of this passage.
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