Swearing an Oath

I grew up in a denomination where swearing an oath of any kind for any reason was considered to be wrong. I would say that if someone looks at Matthew 5:33-37, at first glance my denomination looks like they just might have been right. That someone might ask, "What part of 'Swear not at all" do you not understand?"

Once again, it is important to look at the context of what Jesus is saying here. This is true with Matthew 5:21-26, Matthew 5:27-30, and Matthew 5:31-32, and it is true with Matthew 5:33-37 as well.

It is also important to remember in all of these passages, as well as Matthew 5:38-42 and Matthew 5:43-48, that Jesus is not changing the Law of the Old Covenant. Not only is he not changing the Law of the Old Covenant, but he is in every instance giving the original intent of the Law of the Old Covenant.

Religious leaders had added to, subtracted from, and given improper emphasis to certain areas of the Law of God. This Law that is still applicable today according to Jesus himself (Matthew 5:17-19) was being subtly twisted into something that it was never intended to be. Jesus loved the Law, and he desired to teach about what the Law was originally intended to teach.

Religious leaders had twisted biblical teaching concerning the swearing of oaths into an ugly mess that somehow may have sounded right, but in reality was very far from what God had originally intended. In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus is going to give the original intent of the Law concerning oath swearing. At first glance, Jesus seems to be saying that it is wrong for anyone to swear an oath of any kind for any reason. But is Jesus really saying that it is wrong for anyone to swear an oath of any kind for any reason?