Numbers 30:1-2 Integrity

 1Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded: 2If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Moses explains what the Lord commanded so the heads, leaders of the tribes could explain it to the people. 

“A vow before God is no small thing. God expressly commanded that Israel should be careful to keep its vows, and to fulfill every oath made.” (Guzik)

But Jesus said; Matthew 5: 34But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

“But, in context of the rest of Scripture, we see that Jesus was not forbidding oaths, as much as telling us that we should be so filled with integrity in our words that an oath is unnecessary.” (Guzik)

“Jesus answered under oath in a court (Matthew 26:63-64), and God Himself swears oaths (Luke 1:73, Acts 2:30, Hebrews 3:18, 6:13, 17).” (Guzik)

Ecclesiastes 5: 4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Do you see the theme here? It’s best to have integrity in your words that it’s unnecessary to make a vow but if you make a vow have the integrity to keep it!

I’m guilty, are you?

Blessings