25 February 2022

Above all, my beloved, 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.

From James 5:9-12, NRSV

James continues to give guidance to the Christians of the Jerusalem Church. He urges them not to make complaints against one another and to be patient. He reminds them of the example of the prophets whose endurance made them “blessed”. The advice that has probably caused the most discussion is that regarding the swearing of oaths. For some, the observance of this guidance has led to refusal to swear oaths even in court. Perhaps it is worth noting the different types of oath that were part of society in the time of James. A “binding oath” included God’s name and was a solemn undertaking. A “non-binding” oath was not sworn in God’s name and often meant that people made false promises or told lies. James is making the point that for Christians, there should not be a need to be making lots of oaths since people’s words alone should be honest and trustworthy.

• • How do you suppose James’s guidance would have been received by those he addressed?
  • How can we make sense of James’s guidance on swearing of oaths?

You may like to take up the challenge of not complaining against others for today!