"Ang Ikatlong Utos" (Part 2) (Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 37)

Psalm 116:11 CSB

In my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”

Question 101. But may we swear an oath by the name of God in a godly manner?

The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism (I. What Is an Oath?)

An oath, properly speaking, is a calling upon God, as the one who knows the heart, that he will bear witness to the truth, and punish me if I swear falsely. For the oath was instituted by God, that it might serve as a bond of truth between men, and be a testimony that God is the author and defender of truth.

Matthew 5:33–37 ESV

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

James 5:12 ESV

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.

Question 101. But may we swear an oath by the name of God in a godly manner?

Yes, when the government demands it of its subjects, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote fidelity and truth, to God’s glory and for our neighbor’s good. Such oath-taking is based on God’s Word and was therefore rightly used by saints in the Old and the New Testament.

Tanong 101. Subalit maaari ba tayong manumpa na gamit ang pangalan ng Diyos sa pamaraang may paggalang?

Oo, kapag hinihingi ito ng pamahalaan sa mga nasasakupan nito, o kung hinihingi ng pagkakataon, upang mapanatili at pag-ibayuhin ang katapatan at katotohanan, para sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos at ikabubuti ng ating kapwa. Ang ganitong panunumpa ay nababatay sa Salita ng Diyos at, samakatuwid, ay ginamit nga ng tama ng mga banal sa Luma at Bagong Tipan.

Deuteronomy 6:13 (ESV)

It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear...You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.

Jeremiah 4:1–2 ESV

“If you return, O Israel, declares the Lord, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver, and if you swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”

Hebrews 6:16–18 ESV

For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Scriptural Examples

Abraham and Abimelech (Gen. 21:22-24)

Jacob and Laban (Gen. 31:51-54)

Joshua and the Gibeonites (Josh. 9:15, 19-21)

David and Saul (1 Sam. 24:21-22)

David and Bathsheba (1 Kings 1:28-30)

Paul (Rom. 1:9; 2 Cor. 1:23)

On Lawful and Unlawful Oaths (Zacharias Ursinus)

The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism IV. What Are the Things concerning Which We Are to Make Oath; or What Oaths Are Lawful, and What Unlawful?

Only such oaths are lawful as are evidently not opposed to the word of God, and which are made concerning things true, certainly known, lawful, possible, weighty, necessary, useful, and worthy of such and so great a confirmation, or of such things as require a confirmation for the glory of God and the safety of our neighbor. It is only in reference to such things, that it is lawful for us to make oath.

The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism IV. What Are the Things concerning Which We Are to Make Oath; or What Oaths Are Lawful, and What Unlawful?

Unlawful oaths are such as are plainly in opposition to the word of God, and made in reference to things which are either false, uncertain, unlawful, impossible, or light and trifling. Of such things no one should make oath: for he who makes oath in reference to things which are false, calls God to witness a lie.

Question 102. May we also swear by saints or other creatures?

No. A lawful oath is a calling upon God, who alone knows the heart, to bear witness to the truth, and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature is worthy of such honour.

Tanong 102. Maaari rin ba tayong manumpa sa pamamagitan ng mga santo o ng ibang nilalang?

Hindi. Ang makatuwirang panunumpa ay pagtawag sa Diyos, na Siyang tanging nakakakilala ng puso, na magpatotoo sa katotohanan at parusahan ako kapag ako’y nanumpa ng mali. Walang nilalang ang karapat-dapat sa ganitong karangalan.

Romans 9:1 ESV

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—

Matthew 23:16–22 ESV

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

How Swearing an Oath Reveals God’s Attributes (Theodorus VanderGroe)

God’s omniscience

God’s omnipresence and omnipotence

God’s holiness and veracity

God’s goodness and grace

God’s justice

God’s majesty

Zechariah 5:4 ESV

I will send it out, declares the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”