THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. It is essential for us to honor our commitments to the Lord, and anyone who has made a promise should strive to fulfill it promptly. It is both serious and perilous to postpone fulfilling such vows, as I believe, and as indicated by Holy Scripture. If it is deemed inappropriate to face accusations of deceit, how can it not be disgraceful to make a vow before God and then fail to uphold it? Therefore, every individual who has made a vow and has delayed or completely neglected its fulfillment stands accused of sin; however, those who possess nothing of their own and are bound by necessary obligations are exempt from guilt as they live under the authority of another.
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The Scriptures state in the book of Numbers: "And Moses spoke unto the chiefs of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is what the Lord hath commanded: if a man make a vow unto the Lord, or swear by an oath, having put a vow upon his soul, he shall not break his word, but shall fulfill all that came out of his mouth. If a woman shall make a vow unto the Lord, and put a vow upon herself in her father's house, in her youth, and her father shall hear her vow, and the vow which she hath put upon her soul, and her father shall be silent concerning it, then all her vows shall take place, and every vow which she hath put upon her soul shall take place; But if her father, when he hears, forbid her, all her vows and her vows which she hath put upon her soul shall not come to pass, and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father hath forbidden her" (Num. 30:2-6). If a woman is bound to her husband by lawful marriage, the same principles apply (Num. 30:7-9).