What they say has been added to the Third Commandment.
What they say has been added to the Third Commandment.
§ 74. To the Third Commandment [Exod. 20:7] they say that Christ added that “it is not permitted to swear even in true matters unless the glory of God compels us” (p. 186).
We respond. A detailed discussion about oaths was given in the explanation of the Second Commandment [On the Law of God (Commonplace XV), §§ 116–21]. Christ showed that rash oaths were forbidden not only in the New but also in the Old Testament (Matt. 5:34) as He removed the Pharisaic corruptions of this teaching. The Epistle to the Hebrews shows that it is lawful in the New Testament to swear not only on behalf of God’s glory but also for the welfare of one’s neighbor: “Men indeed swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation” (Heb. 6:16). The Photinians greatly favor the Pharisaic corruption that, since the Israelites are forbidden “to swear falsely in God’s name” (according to Lev. 19:12), it is thus only perjury that was forbidden to them; but that, on the other hand, it was permissible and, in fact, was worshiping God to swear in God’s name in common conversation and public commerce, so long as it was not false swearing. Yet those rash and empty oaths were also forbidden in the Old Testament; this is not only proven by the purpose of the Law but is also confirmed by a clear explanation in Scripture: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exod. 20:7). That is, God’s very holy name must be held in such reverence by you that you not only should not use it in a lie but should not use it even for something useless. “Do not let your mouth become accustomed to swearing. And do not use the name of the holy One as a habit. Just as a slave who is beaten frequently does not lack stripes, so also he who swears and uses the name of God assiduously will not easily be free of fault. The man who swears frequently will be full of wickedness, and the whip will not depart from his house. And he who swears rashly will not be judged innocent, for his house will be attacked with frequent raids. Do not let your mouth become accustomed to excessive swearing, for from this comes the opportunity to sin” (Ecclus. 23:9–14, 17). “The talk of man who often swears brings horror, and the wrangling of such men deafens the ears” (Ecclus. 27:[14]). “Do not swear: ‘As the Lord lives’ ” (Hosea 4:15), which must be understood to refer to rash oaths, because holy men have very often used this set form in an important and serious matter.