Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. 1. For the matter of an oath, assertory oaths must be of things that are — (1) True. (2) Weighty. (3) They must be such to our knowledge.Again, promissory oaths must be things just and lawful, possible, profitable, and in our power, and which to our knowledge are such. 2. The form must be, By the true God, it being a peculiar part of His worship. 3. Its rise must be edification, that is, God's glory, our own vindication, or our neighbour's good, or the call of a magistrate putting us to it. 4. As to the expressions in which it is conceived, or the thing sworn, it is required that it sought not only truth to, and in the man's meaning that sweareth, but that the expressions be plain and intelligible to his meaning and understanding to whom the oath is given; otherwise it deludeth, but doth not clear. 5. As to the right manner of swearing, these things ought to be noticed — (1) That it be in judgment, that we understand the thing we swear, and the nature of our oath, and Him we swear by (Jeremiah 4:2). (2) Fear and reverence in going about it, as being in an especial way in God's own sight. (3) Singleness in the end, that it be not to deceive any, but to express the truth only and faithfully, called righteousness (Jeremiah 4:2). (J. Durham.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. |
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