What does the Bible say about making vows?

The Bible emphasizes the seriousness of making vows, particularly in Matthew 5:33-37, where the Lord instructs not to swear at all but to let our yes be yes and our no be no. This teaching clarifies that making oaths before God can lead to hypocrisy and insincerity. Instead, genuine communication should reflect honesty without the need for vows. The Scriptures point to examples of saints who made vows, yet Jesus urges us to avoid a system of personal promises that might reflect a reliance on our own resolve rather than faith in God’s sovereignty.