In this verse James takes up a very prevalent sin of the tongue both in his time and ours. The sin of swearing was different in his time than now in our western lands. In eastern lands they still swear about the same way as they did in Bible times. These eastern people are fearfully profane. They are constantly, in an awful way bringing in God and His works. They swear to the truthfulness of almost every statement by their head, or by heaven, or by earth, or by the temple, or by God Himself. Of the variety there is almost no end. When Peter cursed and swore at the time of his denial of Christ, it probably was along this line, and a return to an old habit.

"... above all things, my brethren, swear not ..." The way that James introduces this subject shows he considered it of first importance. He says, "Above all things, my brethren, swear not." He desired to press home the seriousness of the offense that they might guard against it with all earnestness. Some think lightly of this sin today. When you reprimand some for it, they say, "O, I don't mean anything by it, it is only a matter of words." No matter what they think, it is a serious thing that strikes right at the honor of God. The law says, "The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Ex. 20:7). The word for "above" in our verse is often translated "before." Some have thought that James is thinking of the habit of putting an oath ahead of almost every sentence. This then could be paraphrased, "Before every sentence, my brethren, swear not."

"... swear not ..." This then is the way the eastern people swear; a calling of God to witness as to the truth of almost every statement. Christians should always tell the truth, and it should not be necessary to strengthen our statements by oath taking. Some seem to think a lie is not so bad as long as it is not accompanied by an oath. A lie is always a serious sin whether an oath accompanies it or not.

Present day swearing: Swearing today in our western lands is more senseless than in Bible times. Some bring the name of God and Christ into every conversation for absolutely no reason at all. There is nothing gained by it. It does not raise the user in anyone's estimation, and in the long- run brings no satisfaction. To lie or steal may bring some momentary advantage, and other sins may gratify a lust of the flesh, but swearing brings nothing – yet we hear it constantly.

Swearing against God Almighty: Men would not use their neighbor's name the way they do the Lord's. They go on as though it was no offense to God, or if it was, as though there was nothing He could do about it anyway. It is an offense to God, and He will do something about it. It is an offense to His majesty, and He is the All Powerful One, able to punish for this sin. One cannot trifle with the Almighty God and not pay for it in time or eternity. A Christian will not swear: A true Christian will never use the name of God or Christ in vain. How can we curse the One who loved us and died to save us? One can sooner conceive of cursing a man who saved him from fire or drowning.

Minced oaths: Christians should not use "minced oaths." Some would never use the name of God in vain, but yet often say "golly" a perverted form of "God." Instead of "Jesus" some say "Gee," and instead of "damn," "darn." All this is unnecessary. Let our speech be simple, true, and free from any terms that border on profanity. If my mouth is not clean, I should examine my heart to see if it has been cleansed by the blood of Christ. Remember, God: sees, hears, and keeps record. We must give an account for every idle word (Matt. 12:36).

"... neither by Heaven, neither by the earth ..." It is interesting to note, once again, we have James using identical words to those of our Lord Jesus, giving evidence that no doubt he often heard the Lord Jesus speak. While he says little of Christ's person or work, he constantly refers to what He said. In the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, He said, "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King; neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Matt. 5:33-37). The rabbis taught that one should not swear by God, but to swear by: heaven, earth, the temple, Jerusalem, or one's own head, was all right. But, both Christ and James condemn this.

"... neither by any other oath ..." Some have concluded from the expression, "neither by any other oath", that it is always wrong to take an oath: in a courtroom, or signing a legal paper. We cannot conclude from this, that it is wrong to take an oath on a solemn occasion, in a reverent manner. If it is wrong ever to swear, then Paul was wrong on occasion. He said, "Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not" (Gal. 1:20). "Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul" (2 Cor. 1:23). Then, we read, "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself" (Heb. 6:13). Neither James, nor the Lord, refers to this kind of swearing, but rather to that which is: flippant, purposeless, and profane.

"... let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay ..." James and the Lord meant that our speech should be simple to the point. Why garnish our speech with a long sentence and an oath, when a simple "yes" or "no" will do? If we are true and faithful Christians, we will not need more than simple answers for people to believe us. In fact, the more we say to confirm the truth, the more likely people are to question our veracity. Some use the word "hell" constantly to no purpose. Let such fear lest they end up in that dread place.

"... lest ye fall into condemnation." The word "condemnation" would be better translated "judgment". Remember again what the law says, "The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Ex. 20:7). Both the saved and unsaved will one day stand before the great Judgment to answer for every time His name was abused. Therefore, we all should put a hold on our lips.

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