Should a Christian make a promise?

Under law it was permitted to the people to make vows as to what they might do in the future, for man is looked at as under probation so long as he is under law. But this time of probation for Israel (which is a sample of all mankind) has proven mankind to be untrustworthy as regards keeping what he promises. Therefore the Lord Jesus, in Matthew 5:33-37 announces, "Again you have heard what was said of those of old, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord. but I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No', 'No' for whatever is more than these is from the evil one." Therefore, vows have no place in Christianity. There is only One who has perfectly kept His vows, as the Lord Jesus say in Psalm 116:18, "I will pay My vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people." The Lord did this at Calvary, and we rest on the absolute truth of His word which could not fail, rather than on our own reliability.

In Old Testament times the way to become a Nazarite was to swear an oath to this effect (Numbers 6: 2). Under the law, such an oath or vow was permissible and intended. But the thought of an oath corresponds to the legal principle: I undertake to perform a certain task, I assume that I have the strength to do this, and I make a corresponding vow. Whenever a man vowed such a vow this resulted in an absolute obligation to carry out what had been promised (Num. 30:2). As a Christian one should not do such a thing. Our word should always be trustworthy. The Lord Jesus Himself told His disciples even before the Christian era: ‘Do not swear at all’ (Mt. 5:34).

It need hardly be said that the Christian does not make vows. These belong to the legal system in which God was dealing with man in the flesh; but in the type there is precious divine teaching for our learning through which God would have us to profit. Although vows belong to the legal system of Judaism, the devotedness expressed in the vow should mark the Christian at all times, knowing that Christ died for all, "that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:15).

I do not believe that it is right for a New Testament believer to make a vow. Unless we have not really understood the plague of our own hearts, we would not dare trust ourselves to be able to perform what we have promised. It is better to tell the Lord that we love Him truly, and want to please Him, but that we need Him to help us. “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 plainly warned Israel that once a vow was made it was binding. They were not required to make such oaths, but If they did, no excuse could be allowed for failure to fulfill it. But the Lord Jesus forbids the making of oaths. Swearing an oath involved a vow to do a certain thing in the future. Often God's name Was invoked in these oaths (1Sam.30:15; 1Kings 17:1); but reticence as to using God's name had led to the use of heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and even one's head; and this in turn led to swearing in vain with no intention of keeping a promise.

Christianity has no place for 0aths, whether sworn seriously or in vain. Israel's law had proven man in the flesh to be untrustworthy: they had vowed to keep the law, but had consistently broken it; therefore we must not dare to emphasize the dependability of our word: rather we should depend utterly on the truth of the word of God. This is the effect of grace.

Because of man's proven unfaithfulness - proven by Israel under law, - the Lord Jesus warned people not to vow at all (Matt. 5:33-37). In other words, we are not to trust ourselves. Our trust must be only in the Lord, whose word can never fail.

Because of man's proven unfaithfulness — proven by Israel under law, — the Lord Jesus warned people not to vow at all (Matt. 5:33-37). In other words, we are not to trust ourselves. Our trust must be only in the Lord, whose word can never fail.

Thus, then, Israel made a fatal mistake in saying, "we will do." It was taking upon themselves a vow which they were not able, even were they willing, to pay; and we know who has said, "better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay." It is of the very essence of a vow that it assumes the competency to fulfil; and where is man's competency? As well might a bankrupt draw a cheque on the bank, as a helpless sinner make a vow. A man who makes a vow, denies the truth, as to his nature and condition. He is ruined, what can he do? He is utterly without strength, and can neither will nor do anything good. Did Israel keep their vow? Did they do "all that the Lord commanded?" Witness the golden calf, the broken tables, the desecrated Sabbath, the despised and neglected ordinances, the stoned messengers, the rejected and crucified Christ, the resisted Spirit. Such are the overwhelming evidences of man's dishonoured vows. Thus must it ever be when fallen humanity undertakes to vow.

In the Old Testament many vows were made and there it was right to make them. Israel made vows under law, they said they would keep the law, "All the words which the Lord hath said will we do" (Ex.24:7), but they did not keep the law. It was all right to make the vow, God did not tell them not to do it, but not to keep it once it was made was a bad thing. This was true all through the Old Testament. Many, many times covenants were made and every time they were broken. The Old Testament teaches that man is so utterly untrustworthy that it is no use making vows. What is the sense then? Why not perform without making a vow? The Old Testament Scripture says, "Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay" (Eccl.5:5). This is confirmed by the Lord Jesus when He said, "Do not swear at all" and James when he said "swear not, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay, that ye do not fall under judgment" (Jas.5:12), that is, there is to be no making oaths, nor vows, rather the believer today is under the grace of God. Jacob was repeatedly told by God that He was full of kindness towards him. God did not ask him to make a vow, and he would have been far better off if he had not, but making the vow only demonstrated the fact that he could not be trusted.

If a person is very certain that he is altogether trustworthy let him make a vow then, let him go ahead and see what happens. If this serves to wake a person up to realise that he has a sinful nature and he needs Christ, he needs to trust someone outside of himself, well then, perhaps in the long term it serves a purpose.

The last chapter of Leviticus has already brought before us the subject of vows. The vow is clearly legal covenant, as such; and, because of our feebleness, forbidden in the New Testament. Israel took at Sinai such vows upon themselves, however, the result proving what a "rash utterance of the lips" it was. "The law made nothing perfect:" grace alone could do this. Yet God in the wisdom of His government, yea, in tender consideration for man himself, though "Father" and "Husband" to them, (Ex. 4:22; Jer. 31:32,) and though the vow was uttered in His hearing, did not disallow it: they have had thus to stand under it, and answer for its breach. Alas, when the gracious proffer of redemption came, though they had been even then long under the penalty of it, they refused redemption, held stubbornly to their broken contract, and remain under it to-day, the enduring lesson, published in every land, of what the law is for those who seek righteousness by it. Would that men would hear!