The third commandment, COMMANDS us not to take the Lord’s name in vain. It goes on to say that He will not hold those guiltless that use His name as a swear word.
Exodus 20:7, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
It turns my stomach when I hear people take the Lord’s name in vain, especially Christians…sometimes it is even painful, other times it makes me angry…they should know better.
There is a very good Richard Gere movie based on a true story called Hachi. It’s a tale about a man who rescues and befriends a dog. The movie is delightful…and for the most part, “safe”. The movie was rated G. The rating was probably appropriate. There were a few issues that I wished that they had a Rating of G and maybe a disclaimer or something to warn parents.
One thing really caught my eye…or rather my ear…At one point, Richard Gere bangs his head and immediately takes the Lord’s name in vain.
I have asked many people about this scene and…no one remembers Richard Gere using God’s name as a cuss word. Yet, he did. Oh, they remember the movi…just not that sceen. Why would no one remember? We have become desensitized to everything around us.
One brother told me one time that his teenage son would spill milk and say, “J-sus!” Notice the quotes? I didn’t say it. Other times he might be playing a video game and he will hear him yell, “oh G-d!” or “G-d Dang it!”. He said, “Wow, that’s good, he is finally getting it.” Like it was a good thing. And, getting ‘what’ exactly?
A good thing? But then again I have heard this brother himself say things like, “J-sus Christ” or “G-d Da…it” or “H-ly Sh…”. The ironic thing is I have also heard him talk about other people at his work. He works in the service industry…and he claims that people all around him do it. But he is so close to it that he does not realize he does it every day.
In todays modern world, we have desensitized ourselves so much that we watch Rated R movies, we swear, we look at pornography, we throw back a few beers with the fellas on Friday night…then come Sunday Morning…we put our church clothes on…smile and say God Bless you…pretending like we live such righteous lives.
Psalm 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”
The Old Testament also identifies several ways in which the third commandment can be violated. Many think it is only the most obvious…to blaspheme or curse the name of God, which we saw already the seriousness of this in…
Leviticus 24:16, “And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death…when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.”
Put to death for using God’s bame as a cuss word! Yes, God is deadly serious.
But there’s more to this commandment than that. The third commandment also forbids empty or false oaths: “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:12; cf. Hosea 10:4).
“And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.”
“They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.”
When you make a declaration, swearing by God’s name, it must not be a false promise or one you do not intend to keep.
Why is taking the Lord’s name in vain so important as to make the top three of the big 10?
I have considered this…and first it so grieves my spirit when I hear it.
Remember in Exodus 3 where God speaks to Moses from the burning bush? Moses asks God, “The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”
God replies with those famous words: “I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:13–14).
God names himself as the sovereign, self-existent one. In fact, the covenant name YHWH (Jehovah) is probably connected to the Hebrew verb “to be.” God is that He is. That is His name.
We see the same in Exodus 33 and 34. God shows Himself by speaking His name.
The irreverent use of God’s name is a very serious matter indeed. Everywhere in Scripture the name of the Lord is exalted in the highest possible terms.
“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.” (Psalm 8:1).
“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2).
The first petition of the Lord’s Prayer is “Hallowed be thy name.” (Mattew 6:9).
The apostles proclaimed that “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10–11).
Psalm 34:3, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
God’s Word is constantly reminding us of the Holy importants of God’s divine name. A name above all names…a name to be exalted.
I think we tend to dismiss the third commandment because we feel it is insignificant. However, a closer look at this command, we see that it is listed among other serious infractions including idolatry, Sabbath breaking, disrespecting parents, killing, adultery, stealing, lying, coveting a neighbor’s spouse and/or possessions.
Perhaps it is not as insignificant as we might think. Words reveal our substance, the truth of who we are. They testify either of our devotion to God or of a serious spiritual problem. We know this because the command not to take the Lord’s name in vain follows instructions to love God wholeheartedly and not to worship idols (causing spiritual malaise).
I want you to consider James 3:11 for just a moment, “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”
Translation … does a Christian put forth both sweet water and bitter water? Should a Christian be swearing? Should a Christian be taking the Lord’s name in vain? What does it say for our love for God when His name is no more than a swear word on our lips?
James 1:26, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”
James is being as clear on the matter as he possibly can. If you cannot bridle your tongue (you swear, take the Lord’s name in vain, speak evil of others, etc.) then you are not saved!
By not using God’s name as a cuss word shows we love Jesus and we believe that His name is truly exalted above all.
Recognizing this as the Holy Ghost helps us overcome sin and live sanctified lives.
Though all of this what is our truest identity? What is our real purpose? Are we not Ambassadors of Heaven?
Finally, I will leave you with 2 Corinthians 2:14,
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
Christian, if this is you. If you have trouble with bridling your tongue…you are swearing or the God that you profess to love…whose name is nothing more than a swear word…if your blasphemy has pricked and convicted your heart…turn to Him…beg thy forgivness and ask Him to help you to never do that again.
If I can help in anyway, please let me know.
May God bless you and yours.
There is a very good Richard Gere movie based on a true story called Hachi. It’s a tale about a man who rescues and befriends a dog. The movie is delightful…and for the most part, “safe”. The movie was rated G. The rating was probably appropriate. There were a few issues that I wished that they had a Rating of G and maybe a disclaimer or something to warn parents.
One thing really caught my eye…or rather my ear…At one point, Richard Gere bangs his head and immediately takes the Lord’s name in vain.
I have asked many people about this scene and…no one remembers Richard Gere using God’s name as a cuss word. Yet, he did. Oh, they remember the movi…just not that sceen. Why would no one remember? We have become desensitized to everything around us.
One brother told me one time that his teenage son would spill milk and say, “J-sus!” Notice the quotes? I didn’t say it. Other times he might be playing a video game and he will hear him yell, “oh G-d!” or “G-d Dang it!”. He said, “Wow, that’s good, he is finally getting it.” Like it was a good thing. And, getting ‘what’ exactly?
A good thing? But then again I have heard this brother himself say things like, “J-sus Christ” or “G-d Da…it” or “H-ly Sh…”. The ironic thing is I have also heard him talk about other people at his work. He works in the service industry…and he claims that people all around him do it. But he is so close to it that he does not realize he does it every day.
In todays modern world, we have desensitized ourselves so much that we watch Rated R movies, we swear, we look at pornography, we throw back a few beers with the fellas on Friday night…then come Sunday Morning…we put our church clothes on…smile and say God Bless you…pretending like we live such righteous lives.
Psalm 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”
The Old Testament also identifies several ways in which the third commandment can be violated. Many think it is only the most obvious…to blaspheme or curse the name of God, which we saw already the seriousness of this in…
Leviticus 24:16, “And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death…when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.”
Put to death for using God’s name as a cuss word! Yes, God is deadly serious.
But there’s more to this commandment than that. The third commandment also forbids empty or false oaths: “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:12; cf. Hosea 10:4).
“And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.”
“They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.”
When you make a declaration, swearing by God’s name, it must not be a false promise or one you do not intend to keep.
Why is taking the Lord’s name in vain so important as to make the top three of the big 10?
I have considered this…and first it so grieves my spirit when I hear it.
Remember in Exodus 3 where God speaks to Moses from the burning bush? Moses asks God, “The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?”
God replies with those famous words: “I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:13–14).
God names himself as the sovereign, self-existent one. In fact, the covenant name YHWH (Jehovah) is probably connected to the Hebrew verb “to be.” God is that He is. That is His name.
We see the same in Exodus 33 and 34. God shows Himself by speaking His name.
The irreverent use of God’s name is a very serious matter indeed. Everywhere in Scripture the name of the Lord is exalted in the highest possible terms.
“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.” (Psalm 8:1).
“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2).
The first petition of the Lord’s Prayer is “Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9)
The apostles proclaimed that “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10–11).
Psalm 34:3, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
God’s Word is constantly reminding us of the Holy importants of God’s divine name. A name above all names…a name to be exalted.
I think we tend to dismiss the third commandment because we feel it is insignificant. However, a closer look at this command, we see that it is listed among other serious infractions including idolatry, Sabbath breaking, disrespecting parents, killing, adultery, stealing, lying, coveting a neighbor’s spouse and/or possessions.
Perhaps it is not as insignificant as we might think. Words reveal our substance, the truth of who we are. They testify either of our devotion to God or of a serious spiritual problem. We know this because the command not to take the Lord’s name in vain follows instructions to love God wholeheartedly and not to worship idols (causing spiritual malaise).
I want you to consider James 3:11 for just a moment, “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”
Translation … does a Christian put forth both sweet water and bitter water? Should a Christian be swearing? Should a Christian be taking the Lord’s name in vain? What does it say for our love for God when His name is no more than a swear word on our lips?
James 1:26, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”
James is being as clear on the matter as he possibly can. If you cannot bridle your tongue (you swear, take the Lord’s name in vain, speak evil of others, etc.) then you are not saved!
By not using God’s name as a cuss word shows we love Jesus and we believe that His name is truly exalted above all.
Recognizing this as the Holy Ghost helps us overcome sin and live sanctified lives.
Though all of this what is our truest identity? What is our real purpose? Are we not Ambassadors of Heaven?
Finally, I will leave you with 2 Corinthians 2:14, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
Christian, if this is you. If you have trouble with bridling your tongue…you are swearing or the God that you profess to love…whose name is nothing more than a swear word…if your blasphemy has pricked and convicted your heart…turn to Him…beg thy forgiveness and ask Him to help you to never do that again.
If I can help in anyway, please let me know.
May God bless you and yours.
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Mothers aren’t special because they gave birth to us. Mothers aren’t special because they are beautiful (although they are).
My Grandma Rose Hemphill was very special to me too. I named all three of my daughters after her: