Q. 17. What is meant by the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”?

We should honor, defend, and live up to the profession of God’s holy name, which we bear through baptism. God forbids whatever profanes his name or harms his reputation, such as hypocrisy, blasphemy, perjury, cursing, and swearing rash or unnecessary oaths.

Those who abuse God’s great name shall not escape his righteous judgment.

Leviticus 19:12; 22:31–32; Deuteronomy 28:58–59; Numbers 6:27; 1 Samuel 3:13; Psalm 29:2; 68:4; 138:1–2; Isaiah 43:7; 52:5; Malachi 1:11, 14; 2:2; Matthew 15:8; Colossians 3:17; 2 Timothy 2:19; James 3:9–10; Revelation 15:3–4.

  • WSC 54–56
  • Heidelberg Catechism 99–102
  • WCF 22
  • AOR 39

NOTES:

Name. God’s name is a means by which he reveals himself. In the Old Testament, God made himself known by his personal covenant name Yahweh (“He who is,” Exodus 3:14). “I am Yahweh; that is my name” (Isaiah 42:8, transliteration). Other names for God include Elohim (God), El Shaddai (God Almighty), and Adonai (Lord). The LORD God (Yahweh Elohim) is supremely revealed in Jesus Christ, to whom God gave “the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). God is now primarily known to his people by “the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Honor. We are obligated to call upon God’s name in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving with appropriate reverence and awe (see Q. 60).

Defend … reputation. The Christian cannot sit idly by while God’s holy name is profaned or while his reputation is besmirched.

Live up to the profession … hypocrisy. “We take God’s name in vain, first, by hypocrisy, making profession of God’s name, but not living up to that profession” (Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament Exodus 20:7).

Bear through baptism. God puts his name on his people (Numbers 6:27), and calls them to bear his name to the peoples of the earth (Deuteronomy 28:10). Christians are baptized in the name of the Triune God and have a special obligation to bear God’s name with integrity.

Oaths. Although Christ forbids “vain and rash swearing,” especially by God’s name, a Christian “may swear when the magistrate requires, in a cause of faith and charity, so long as it be done according to the prophet’s teaching, in justice, judgment, and truth” (AOR 39).

Not escape. “God will himself be the avenger of those that take his name in vain; and they will find it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Wesley).

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