The Third Commandment – The Lord's Name

1. This is the first part of the verse: “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.”

1) The command is prohibitive like the first two.

2) In that regard, for one to do what is prohibited is sinful.

3) Remember the great command, “and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

4) To take God’s name in vain is to disrespect God instead of love him.

2. The name of God.

1) The reference to God’s name here is to the name Yahweh or Jehovah.

2) When Moses asked God what his name was on Mount Sinai.

3) “And God said unto Moses, 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 3:14).

4) The name of God, however, goes beyond the mere four letters in the Hebrew alphabet with which God’s name is spelled.

5) It is the concept of God, the Great I Am, that we are to respect.

6) In essence invoking God’s name, or any word which would refer to God, is the concern of this commandment.

7) More specifically, God’s name was often invoked during oath taking and this command in essence states that if one is to use God’s name in an oath, he better be prepared to keep it.

8) Numbers 30:2 states, “When a man voweth a vow unto Jehovah, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”

3. To use God’s name in vain is to use it in an empty or meaningless way.

1) The Pharisees and those like them perverted this command to mean not to use God’s name, Yahweh, for any reason.

a. They refused to utter God’s name even in spiritual contexts.

b. Scribes would obtain new pens to write this word specifically or refrain from writing the full characters.

c. This is why many were upset with Jesus when he said, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.”

d. He used God’s name here and on top of that claimed to be God.

e. They took this as using God’s name vainly and as blaspheming God’s name.

f. Leviticus 24:16 says, “And he that blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the sojourner, as the home-born, when he blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, shall be put to death.”

2) Those who refer to God in common speech also take God’s name in vain.

a. This, in essence, makes God no more than a common slur.

b. The expression “Oh my God” is one that is used flippantly and without meaning by many.

c. “Oh Lord,” “Jesus,” “Golly,” “Gee,” and “Gee Whiz” are all expressions that have their origins with a reference to God.

3) Those who invoke God’s name in an oath without intending to follow through take God’s name in vain.

a. As we’ve seen, oaths were taken seriously by God.

b. Leviticus 19:12 “And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah.”

c. Deuteronomy 23:21-22 “When thou shalt vow a vow unto Jehovah thy God, thou shalt not be slack to pay it: for Jehovah thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.”

d. Psalm 15:4 says that “…He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not” honors Jehovah.

4. Let’s also consider some New Testament principles in this regard.

1) Jesus taught clearly that we are not to make oaths.

a. Matthew 5:33 “Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.”

b. James reiterates: “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment” (James 5:12).

2) We also need to keep in mind respect and honor for God at all times.

a. Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.”

b. Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.”

c. And certainly we don’t want to blaspheme God’s good name (2 Timothy 3:2).

1. The consequence of violating this command was that God would not hold one guiltless.

1) That is to say that one who uses God’s name in vain is guilty and will be punished.

2) Leviticus 24:10-16 sets forth an example of what happened to those who used God’s name in vain by cursing God-READ.

3) For failing to follow through with an oath, one was held guilty and had to present a guilt offering to the Lord.

4) Read Leviticus 5:4-6.

2. Jesus also pronounced consequences upon vain or empty words used. Matthew 12:36-37 “And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

3. This leads us to the concept that the guilty will be punished.

4. We have, however, the opportunity today for forgiveness.

1) Sins can be forgiven through the blood of Christ in baptism (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16).

2) For Christians, sins can be forgiven through confession and prayer to God (1 John 1:9).