A witness who attends court but who refuses to take the oath or affirmation, or who improperly refuses to give evidence, is liable to be fined or imprisoned. And if we really meant to keep our word we would say something like: Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye (whatever that means!).. Swearing on the Bible is a reminder that our words have weight and meaning, and that we should only use them when we are absolutely sure of what we are saying. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. You keep your promises. What is the spiritual significance of swearing on a Bible among the punishing him and forgive him. It is as though we are saying, Oh, but I mean it now, you see. Wouldn't it just make the swearing meaningless? Just keep your word!. The writer of Hebrews saw two things in Genesis 22:16-17. God is here this morning and by his word he is working to bring this about"strong encouragement" to hold on to our hope in him so that we are not deceived and lured away into the fleeting and suicidal hopes offered by the world. or even going to jail for up to 14 years The Maryland Constitution at the time required a declaration of a belief in God: [N]o religious test ought ever to be required as a qualification for If we have trusted in Jesus for salvation, we will go to heaven. Canadian of Polish descent travel to Poland with Canadian passport. So, treat others like you want to be treated. In essence, James is saying, Look, dont be like some unbeliever who has to enforce his words with an oath. An oath might be taken not so much to bind one to a commitment as to get around one. In other words, if one has to place his or hand on the Bible in order to guarantee that he or she is now going to be telling the truth, what does this say about the way a person naturally goes about speaking and behaving when he or she is not placing a hand upon the Bible? You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor Exodus 20:16, There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19, A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. Proverbs 19:9, Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossian 3: 9-10, Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Ephesians 4:25. And he means ultimate blessing, forever and ever with God in eternity, forgiven, accepted, purified, glorified, capable of unspeakable joy, triumphant over all our enemies: sin and guilt and shame and death and hell and Satan. invades the appellant's freedom of belief and religion, and therefore The writer speaks of "the heirs of the promise." Let me read this for you from Genesis 22:16-17. It only takes a minute to sign up. Even God swears oaths: The bible is clear that swearing on anything and taking oaths is sinful. However, some people believe that swearing with the Bible is actually a way of showing respect for God. "Please place your hand on the Bible. Its lying just like any other lying is. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary.