All About Vows

Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, “YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.” (NASB) Matt. 5:33

The New American Standard Bible (NASB) indicates that Jesus quoted the Old Testament by the use of capitalized words. But this is not correct. Neither the New International Version (NIV) or New King James Version Bible (NKJV) indicate that Jesus quoted the older scriptures, and they are correct. Jesus’ quote cannot be found in the Old Testament. Apparently Jesus quoted a well-known, popular teaching of the Pharisees.

The NASB, NIV, and NKJV have three different English translations of the same Greek word that the NASB translates as “false vows.” Instead of “false vow,” the NIV has “break an oath”, and the NKJV reads as ”swear falsely.” Why are they different? The answer is found in the Greek word, EPIORKEO, that Jesus used. The word has a range of meanings, but the basic meaning of the word is “to swear falsely” or “to promise and not fulfill.” Have you ever promised someone that you would not reveal a secret and then done so anyway? Have you told someone that you would do something for him or her and yet known deep down inside that you would not fulfill your promise? That is the meaning of the Greek word. A person makes a promise and does not keep it. The three major translations have captured the basic idea of making a false vow. That is, some made a vow and did not plan to keep it or made a vow and later broke it.

Pharisees and Vows. The Pharisees had many rules about vows, oaths, or promises. The Mishnah contains pages of rules about vows or oaths. They had four types of vows which they considered not to be binding:

Vows of Incitement - The first type of vows were those which were motivated by the actions of another person. The Mishnah illustrates this type of vow with a person making a vow not to drop his selling price any further. Then in response, the buyer vowed not to increase his offer. According to Rabbi Eliezer the vows were null and void (Nedarim, Mishnah. 3.1).

Vows of Exaggeration - The second type of vows were those which were unrealistic and excessive. For example, if someone swore that he really did see a snake as big as the beam of an olive press, the vow would be null and void (Nedarim, Mishnah. 3.2).

Vows Made In Error - The third type of non-binding vows are those which were made by “mistake.” If a person affirmed that he did not eat all of the ice cream and then later remembered that he had, the vow was considered to be null and void. If a person forgot to fulfill a promise, the rabbis would forgive the person. The Mishnah does not discuss the obvious issue of lying (Nedarim, Mishnah. 3.2).

The religious leaders said,

He who makes a vow not to have wine is permitted to have apple wine. He who takes a vow not to have oil is permitted to have sesame oil (Nedarim, Mishnah. 6.9).

On those particular days (festival and Sabbath days) the vows are not binding, but for all other days that are binding (Nedarim, Mishnah. 9.6).

From Jesus’ own lips we discover later in the gospel of Matthew, some other things that the religious leaders taught,

Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated. You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And, whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated. You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.” (NASB) Matt. 23:16-22