Oath

"A solemn appeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deut." "6:13; Jer. 4:2), in various forms (Gen. 16:5; 2 Sam. 12:5; Ruth" "1:17; Hos. 4:15; Rom. 1:9), and taken in different ways (Gen." 14:22; 24:2; 2 Chr. 6:22). God is represented as taking an oath "(Heb. 6:16-18), so also Christ (Matt. 26:64), and Paul (Rom." "9:1; Gal. 1:20; Phil. 1:8). The precept, "Swear not at all," refers probably to ordinary conversation between man and man "(Matt. 5:34, 37). But if the words are taken as referring to" "oaths, then their intention may have been to show "that the" proper state of Christians is to require no oaths; that when evil is expelled from among them every yea and nay will be as "decisive as an oath, every promise as binding as a vow."