Heidelberg Catechism Week 37

101. Q. But may we swear an oath in God's name if we do it reverently? A. Yes, when the government demands it, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote truth and trustworthiness for God's glory and our neighbor's good. Such oaths are approved in God's Word and were rightly used by Old and New Testament believers.

102. Q. May we swear by saints or other creatures? A. No. A legitimate oath means calling upon God as the one who knows my heart to witness to my truthfulness and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature is worthy of such honor.

My reflections on the reading from the book...

These questions continue dealing with the Third Commandment, and DeYoung explains that this is because "oath-swearing was a hot topic during the Reformation." (Anabaptist Reformers used Matthew 5:33-37 and James 5:12 to outlaw oaths altogether, failing to consider the contexts of these verses.) The Heidelberg Catechism takes the balanced position that oaths, used sparingly and in the right context, can glorify God.