Please Don’t Swear
It’s so common to hear people “Swear to …” to show the listener how much they are telling the truth. It’s common, but it is not right. We should be careful to pay attention to things we say. Better yet, we want to be careful what we think and careful about what we put in our heart. For is it what comes out of the mouth that defiles us.
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.
“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.
How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin.
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
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