James #36: Oaths

For the last time in his letter, James addresses the tongue. This time he takes aim at one of the vital principles that under girds all his previous exhortations about the tongue: speaking the truth. Specifically, he admonishes the believers about taking oaths.

The phrase "above all things" does not necessarily mean that James believes the proper use of oaths is more important than other topics in his letter (e.g., taking care of widows or not showing favoritism), rather he uses the phrase to emphasis that this is important – to encourage us to take out our highlight pens, so to speak.

And his command to "swear not" does not mean he is outlawing oaths. The Bible is replete with oaths, including the Lord himself taking oaths. Instead, he is warning against the improper usage of oaths: oaths that are undertaken in a cavalier manner without intending to keep them or forgetting in whose name we swear.

Expanding upon the underlying theme of truth, he admonishes us to be people of integrity: "let our yes be yes and our no be no". James makes plain that keeping our promises, our word, is of vital importance for if we do not, we will fall into condemnation.