Spirituality of the Law
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that we have a right to pledge, as if it were our own, for the fulfillment
of our word.
The Jews understood the third commandment as prohibiting the
profane use of the name of God; but they thought themselves at lib-
erty to employ other oaths. Oath taking was common among them.
Through Moses they had been forbidden to swear falsely, but they had
many devices for freeing themselves from the obligation imposed by
an oath. They did not fear to indulge in what was really profanity, nor
did they shrink from perjury so long as it was veiled by some technical
evasion of the law.
Jesus condemned their practices, declaring that their custom in
oath taking was a transgression of the commandment of God. Our
Saviour did not, however, forbid the use of the judicial oath, in which
God is solemnly called to witness that what is said is truth and nothing
[67]
but the truth. Jesus Himself, at His trial before the Sanhedrin, did not
refuse to testify under oath. The high priest said unto Him, “I adjure
Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ,
the Son of God.” Jesus answered, “Thou hast said.”
Matthew 26:63,
64
. Had Christ in the Sermon on the Mount condemned the judicial
oath, He would at His trial have reproved the high priest and thus, for
the benefit of His followers, have enforced His own teaching.
There are very many who do not fear to deceive their fellow men,
but they have been taught, and have been impressed by the Spirit of
God, that it is a fearful thing to lie to their Maker. When put under oath
they are made to feel that they are not testifying merely before men,
but before God; that if they bear false witness, it is to Him who reads
the heart and who knows the exact truth. The knowledge of the fearful
judgments that have followed this sin has a restraining influence upon
them.
But if there is anyone who can consistently testify under oath, it is
the Christian. He lives constantly as in the presence of God, knowing
that every thought is open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to
do; and when required to do so in a lawful manner, it is right for him to
appeal to God as a witness that what he says is the truth, and nothing
but the truth.
Jesus proceeded to lay down a principle that would make oath
taking needless. He teaches that the exact truth should be the law of