Do not swear.
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one. Matthew 5:33-37
We need more people who are like those described in Psalm 15:4b, “who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind”. Unfortunately, it seems there are few people who are that trustworthy. Worse, it tends to be the least reliable people who are most likely to announce their steadfastness. Jesus says not to be like that. Let your word be enough and make sure it is, whatever the cost.
