Inherent in the problem having to do with breaking a vow that one has previously made (from a Biblical point of view) is the classic distinction between "law" and "grace" which is talked about a great in the writings of Paul. It is not advisable to make a vow (Matthew 5:34-35), or to break a vow (Matthew 5:33), obviously because of the strict justice of God and His righteous standard. However, to think that a vow made foolishly, rashly, in error, while intoxicated, poisoned, mentally compromised, etc, must always be observed forever, is not only a wrong way or practice for being too legalistic, it would practically be heresy because one would be ignoring what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross does away with the ceremonial ordinances of the Old Testament by fulfilling them, bringing them to completion in the bringing of a new covenant in Him. Well guess what? In the Old Testament ceremonial ordinances the Jews had a way to have their vows cleared, forgiven, and handled on the Day of Atonement, the feast of Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16). The special song they sing for the annulment of vows is called Kol Nidre. For those who are in Christ now, in the new covenant, sins such as that are dealt with in him (1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:1-2). One cannot be in Christ and have live a lifestyle of sin, though (1 John 2:4). So while one might mistakenly make a vow that they can't or shouldn't keep, to intentionally do that repetitively as a lifestyle means that they are so in sin that their very salvation could be called into question.
Even in the Old Testament it is shown that God has provided for the fact that humans make mistakes and are not perfect completely like He is. For example, Leviticus 27 gives valuations for property, livestock, and persons so that in the case that the actual thing vowed cannot be given, then people could donate the monetary equivalent of their vow. For more on Leviticus 27, see here
I need to make several other caveats. A vow made with the name of God is different from one made not with God's name, because one would be breaking the third commandment by breaking the first type. A formal vow or oath is different from just breaking one's word. The purpose of an oath is it's binding value, and so when one vows or oaths, their attention is on that purpose. This is different than in regular conversation when people might say things without thinking. The numerous provisions in the Old Testament for sins committed unintentionally (such as for example Leviticus 4) are quite obviously replaced in the new covenant by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Sins committed unintentionally were quite obviously handled at the cross of Jesus by His sacrifice.
If you made a bad vow that you can't keep, and you're not sure if God is forgiving you, you should talk to your pastor, pray to God about it, and also look in the Bible. Also, no one has to keep an oath or vow to do something which would make them be in sin (Acts 23:12-22, Numbers 30:5-13).
Sometimes if someone cannot keep their word, and they did not vow in God's name, it is possible that the only authority holding them in account directly is other men because God has basically forgiven them for that specific sin. (I am saying this because people in their wicked nature can be very ungracious while God's grace is good). They could have a different sin for failing to reconcile, though, because Jesus said in Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."
Just to help everyone, I am providing quotes from the book of Romans here which are regarding law and grace.
"Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter." Romans 7:4-6
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Even in the Old Testament it is shown that God has provided for the fact that humans make mistakes and are not perfect completely like He is. For example, Leviticus 27 gives valuations for property, livestock, and persons so that in the case that the actual thing vowed cannot be given, then people could donate the monetary equivalent of their vow. For more on Leviticus 27, see here
I need to make several other caveats. A vow made with the name of God is different from one made not with God's name, because one would be breaking the third commandment by breaking the first type. A formal vow or oath is different from just breaking one's word. The purpose of an oath is it's binding value, and so when one vows or oaths, their attention is on that purpose. This is different than in regular conversation when people might say things without thinking. The numerous provisions in the Old Testament for sins committed unintentionally (such as for example Leviticus 4) are quite obviously replaced in the new covenant by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Sins committed unintentionally were quite obviously handled at the cross of Jesus by His sacrifice.
If you made a bad vow that you can't keep, and you're not sure if God is forgiving you, you should talk to your pastor, pray to God about it, and also look in the Bible. Also, no one has to keep an oath or vow to do something which would make them be in sin (Acts 23:12-22, Numbers 30:5-13).
Sometimes if someone cannot keep their word, and they did not vow in God's name, it is possible that the only authority holding them in account directly is other men because God has basically forgiven them for that specific sin. (I am saying this because people in their wicked nature can be very ungracious while God's grace is good). They could have a different sin for failing to reconcile, though, because Jesus said in Matthew 5:23-24, "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."
Just to help everyone, I am providing quotes from the book of Romans here which are regarding law and grace.
"Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter." Romans 7:4-6
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you." Romans 8:1-9
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