Many Christians make vows to God they don’t intend to keep, yet the Bible makes it abundantly clear that he wants us only to make holy vows which we intend to keep.
Breaking a vow has serious repercussions; while not an unforgivable sin (only blasphemy of the holy spirit is), there will still be consequences associated with breaking it.
Table of Contents
1. Forgiveness
Breaking your promises to God can have serious repercussions, depending on their faith or belief system. Breaking promises could even be seen as breaking promises – in certain religions this shows your integrity as someone of good word and shows respect for their promises.
Forgiveness has many long-term advantages, enabling both wrongdoers and victims to move past the debilitating effects of past actions. According to Emmanuel Levinas, forgiveness “transfigures” past events by purifying them; Hannah Arendt suggests it alters ethical significance by keeping past misdeeds from having permanent or fixed characteristics (Arendt 1958).
Though the Bible does not specify whether vows are sacred or frivolous, its message suggests that breaking promises can be considered a serious offense. Solomon warns against protesting to a temple messenger about vows being taken by mistake: “Why should He become angry because of your voice and destroy what your hands have produced?” (Ecclesiastes 5:6).
However, other scriptures show that God will forgive those who have broken their vows if they repent of them and make genuine efforts to change. This is particularly true when vows were made based on something God already considers sinful such as Jephthah’s pledge to sacrifice his daughter if his enemies could not be found.
Even if you repent of past vows, it is still wise to remain wary when making new ones. Make promises you cannot keep; otherwise they could only lead to further disappointment in the long run.
2. Remorse
Pledging devotion to God by making vows is one of the highest acts of devotion a person can show, yet doing so comes with consequences. The Bible makes clear that He holds people responsible for breaking their vows – examples include Jephthah’s careless/stupid vows in Judges 11 and Joshua 9 as well as Israel’s covenant with Gibeonites in Joshua 9 which indicate breaking vows is sinful behavior.
Regret and remorse can both be felt after experiencing something negative; regret is an instantaneous emotion associated with wishing something hadn’t gone as planned; while remorse refers to a longer-lasting sense of sorrow over what was done and should have been avoided.
Remorse can lead to feelings of shame, embarrassment and guilt; as well as increased self-criticism and depression. Remorse can even cause people to act out in ways which harm themselves or others.
Whenever regret arises, seeking professional assistance from an accredited counselor can be helpful in resolving issues and moving forward.
Although it’s essential to recognize the consequences of breaking vows, it is equally crucial to keep in mind that God wants us to make holy vows and keep them. Jesus taught his disciples not to make promises that are too binding (Matt 5:37). Nonetheless, some biblical characters did make vows unto the Lord that they fulfilled – Hannah (1 Sam 1:3), Jacob (Gen 28:20-22 and 31:13), David (Ps 61:5) and Paul (Acts 18:18) among others.
No matter whether or not you have made promises to God, it’s always wisest to uphold them. Doing so will prevent any serious sin, such as blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matt 12:31). But if something does slip through and you break your vow, don’t panic: first check whether it was truly accidental; seek forgiveness for whatever sin has been committed and move on from there.
3. Change
Vows in the Bible are an expression of devotion to God that allow people to demonstrate their commitment. Vows may be taken either personally or communally and can include vows that commit an action, behavior change, or abstinence from certain items; additionally they can include promises made before God or committing something meaningful for Him.
Violators who break their vows may appear deceitful or dishonest, which can compromise both their reputations and relationships. Furthermore, in some cultures and religions breaking vows is considered an offense which may incur social sanctions as well as harm an individual’s spiritual growth.
The Bible contains many instances of people making promises they later break, but it’s equally important to recognize those who keep them. Indeed, vows should be taken seriously. Therefore the Lord created Numbers 30 as an entire chapter within Scripture that provides rules on how to take and uphold vows.
One of the main consequences of breaking a vow is losing one’s faith and suffering as a result. Furthermore, it may create immense stress and emotional anguish for those required to fulfill it; for example, someone making an undertaking such as promising to donate part of their income may feel pressured and overwhelmed to fulfill this vow; individuals may even struggle praying due to feelings of guilt associated with having broken one of these pledges.
Noting the implications of breaking their vows is also key, for breaking vows can make one accountable before God. Judges 11 and Joshua 9 both show how Jephthah and the Israelites were held liable to Him after making promises they later failed to honor.
Be mindful that Jesus’ work on the cross atoned for all our sins, including failing to keep a vow made. Therefore, Christians should make commitments they are confident they can keep and not attempt to cover up mistakes by pretending they never made them.
4. Punishment
In the Bible, vows can have serious repercussions; for example, sacrifice of animals and property or even death were consequences of vows made under vow. However, God teaches that an oath strengthens vows more than simply making our commitment solely based on His word alone – with exceptions only occurring when there is something irrevocably evil going on like Samson or Jephthah’s deaths where He cannot be avoided and punishing God is unavoidable.
The Bible makes clear that breaking vows or promises, no matter if they’re sacred or secular, is sinful and must never be done for an excuse – similar to how banks will not forgive any debt incurred from nonpayment of loans or credit agreements.
People would frequently make vows in return for God’s help or blessings. Jacob promised God a tenth of his property if He protected him; Jephthah offered up the first person he encountered after battle against Ammonites; Hannah beseeched God to grant her son and pledged him for service at Shiloh (1 Sam. 1:20-23).
If someone pledged an animal or property and then broke their vow, they were required to pay its fair market value plus 20 percent as penalty: When making promises they must fulfill them; “when promising anything you must keep the word you made; for God is strict with his pledges” (Lev. 27:21).
Some may argue that vows don’t count as promises unless written into Scripture, yet two New Testament passages that refer to vows show no change in God’s view on them – specifically Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 where it states it would be wiser not to vow than swear and fail to honor your promise; this means there are never circumstances when making unwise vows is acceptable without suffering consequences from Him.
