When modern readers see a title about making a vow, they probably think of Jesus’ message about vows in the Sermon on the Mount.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’
But I say to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one (Matthew 5:33-37).
With that in mind, let’s consider Moses’ directions to the Israelites about vows.
Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the Israelites, saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded.
When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth (Numbers 30:1-2).
The principal emphasis from Moses is that the vows should not be made rashly. When someone makes a vow to the Lord, it must be kept.
Jesus spoke to people who were members of His kingdom. As members of His kingdom, they were to be “salt” and “light” to the society in which they lived.
Jesus taught His followers to strive for such accurate and honest communication that vows are no longer necessary.
Women and Vows
As Moses recounted God’s directions for making vows, women were included. Women were not excluded from making vows, presumably before the Tabernacle. In fact, it is assumed that women will make vows.
Unlike men, women have additional requirements.
“When a woman makes a vow to the Lord or binds herself by a pledge while within her father’s house, in her youth,
And her father hears of her vow or her pledge by which she has bound herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and any pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand.
But if her father overrules her at the time that he hears of it, no vow of hers and no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand, and the Lord will forgive her because her father overruled her (Numbers 30:3-5).
Apparently, if a daughter made a vow and failed to fulfill it, her father was responsible. That is the reasoning for the requirements as stated both for women, whether daughters, wives, or widows.
Reflections
No one would ever imagine having to ask Jesus to swear that something He said was truthful. If we are determined to live a Jesus-kind-of-life, we should imitate His truthful approach to speech.
Jesus was revolutionary in His approach toward women. There was a group of women who were part of His closest followers.
We can’t overemphasize the impact the church had on society. Beyond breaking down the wall between genders, the power of Jesus lessened various racial and social divisions.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).
If these attitudes and actions of Jesus and the early church are the essence of the Gospel, we should embrace them wholeheartedly.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 