https://biblehub.com/matth... — if oaths are a no-no (I have never sworn one), how come Gen Flynn was encouraging people to swear one? How come courts get people to swear an oath on the Bible, when it specifically says not to do this?

My sense is that any oath divides your loyalty to the holy spirit, since it is to a corruptible temporal institution or individual. My childhood in the JWs makes me allergic to surrendering myself to any collective and trusting its stated purpose is honest.

I think, in this case, context is important, as is interpretation. You can certainly disagree with me, but, I believe that in this passage (which is part of the Beatitudes), Jesus is warning us not to swear by God or Heaven, meaning don’t be irreverent to God in your common speech or your intent. Make your yes a yes, your no a no, and nothing more. I don’t believe He is saying to never pledge loyalty to a flag or to a righteous cause.

Matthew 5:33-37 (RSVCE)

Concerning Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.