Swear Not

[James 5:12] But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
[16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Swear not at your persecutors, at those that reproach you and say all manner of evil of you; be not put into a passion by the injuries they do you, so as in your passion to be provoked to swear. This swearing is no doubt forbidden here: and it will not excuse those that are guilty of this sin to say they sear only when they are provoked to it, and before they are aware. But the apostle’s warning extends to other occasions of swearing as well as this. Above all things; they should not, in common conversation, before every thing they say, put an oath. All customary needless swearing is undoubtedly forbidden, and all along in scripture condemned, as a very grievous sin.
It is hard to suppose that swearing should be one of the spots of G-d’s children, since Peter, when he was charged with being a disciple of Messiah and would disprove the charge, cursed and swore, thereby thinking most effectually to convince them that he was no disciple of Y’Shua, it being well known of such that they durst not allow themselves in swearing; but possibly some of the looser sort of those who were called Believers might, among other sins here charged upon them, be guilty also of this and indeed the most execrable oaths and curses now daily wound the ears and hearts of all serious Believers.
The Jews of James’ time made distinctions between “binding oaths” and “non-binding oaths.” Oaths that did not include the name of G-d were considered non-binding, and to use such oaths was a way of “crossing your fingers” behind your back when telling a lie. It is these kinds of oaths that James condemns.
The Bible does not forbid the swearing of all oaths, only against the swearing of deceptive, unwise, or flippant oaths. On occasion, G-d Himself swears oaths (Luke 1:73; Hebrews 3:11; Hebrews 6:13).
James again echoes the teaching of Y’Shua in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:34-37). The need to swear or make oaths, beyond a simple and clear yes or no betrays the weakness of your word. It demonstrates that there is not enough weight in your own character to confirm your words.
This lack of character will be exposed at the judgment seat. This motivates us all the more to prepare for that judgment by our speaking with integrity and meaning what we say and say what we mean.
Let it suffice you to affirm or deny a thing as there is occasion, and be sure to stand to your word, an be true to it, so as to give no occasion for your being suspected of falsehood; and then you will be kept from the condemnation of backing what you say or promise by rash oaths, and from profaning the name of G-d to justify yourselves. It is being suspected of falsehood that leads men to swearing. Let it be known that your keep to truth, and are firm to your word, and by this means you will find there is no need to swear to what you say. Thus shall you escape the condemnation which is expressly annexed to the third commandment: The L-rd will not hold him guiltless that takeing his name in vain.’’
Sometimes it may be well to confess our faults to some praying friend that they may help us to plead with G-d for mercy and pardon. But then we are not to think that James puts us upon telling every thing that we are conscious is amiss in ourselves or in one another; but so far as confession is necessary to our reconciliation with such as are at variance with us, or for gaining information in any point of conscience and making our own spirits quiet and easy, so far we should be ready to confess our faults. And sometimes also it may be of good use to Believers to disclose their peculiar weaknesses and infirmities to one another, where there are great intimacies and friendships, and where they may help each other by their prayers to obtain pardon of their sins and power against them. Those who make confession of their own faults one to another should thereupon pray with and for one another.
James reminds us that mutual confession and prayer brings healing, both physically and spiritually. These free us from the heavy burdens (physically and spiritually) of unresolved sin, and removes hindrances to the work of the Holy Spirit.
Confession to another in the body of G-d is essential, because sin will demand to have us to itself, isolated from all others. Confession breaks the power of secret sin.
Yet, confession need not be made to a “priest” or any imagined mediator; we simply confess to one another as appropriate. Confession is good, but must be made with discretion. An unwise confession of sin can be the cause of more sin.
Sin should especially be confessed where physical healing is necessary. It is possible - though by no means always the case - that a person’s sickness is the direct result of some sin that has not been dealt with, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 11:30.
The root form of confess means literally to say the same thing; hence, it means that in confession sin we agree to identify it by its true name and admit that it is sin.
The one who hears the confession should have the proper response: loving, intercessory prayer, and not human wisdom, gossiping, or “sharing” the need with others.
Much of our prayer is not effective simply because it is not fervent. It is offered with a lukewarm attitude that virtually asks G-d to care about something that we care little about. Effective prayer must be fervent, not because we must emotionally persuade a reluctant G-d, but because we must gain G-d’s heart by being fervent for the things He is fervent for.
Additionally, effective prayer is offered by a righteous man. This is someone one who recognizes the grounds of his righteousness reside in Y’Shua, and whose personal walk is generally consistent with the righteousness that he has in Y’Shua.
To truly pray, by definition, is to pray earnestly!