A.      In the first two commandments, God prohibited Israel from worshiping or serving other gods.

B.      In the third commandment, God prohibited Israel from making improper use of His holy name.  This is the subject of our present lesson, which has an application that is sorely needed today.

II.      THE COMMANDMENT TO ISRAEL: YOU SHALL NOT TAKE GOD’S NAME IN VAIN

Exodus 20:7 – "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.”

A.      To take the name of God in vain is to use His name irreverently.

                                                             1.      One way in which God’s name is taken in vain is by careless use.  One who speaks the name of God thoughtlessly and without a proper regard for God does so in vain.

                                                             2.      Another way for God’s name to be taken in vain is by false use.

a.       One who speaks a lie about God or swears falsely by His name takes His name in vain.

b.       Notice Leviticus 19:12 – "You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.”  (Note: Israel was commanded to swear by God’s name, but they were prohibited from swearing falsely by His name.  See Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20; Isa. 48:1.)

                                                             3.      A sin that is closely related to this commandment is blasphemy.

a.       This English word is derived from the Greek word blasphemia, which has two parts: blapto, meaning "to injure,” and pheme, meaning "speech.”  In general, blasphemy is injurious speech against anyone, but it usually indicates injurious speech against God.

b.       Of course, the Old Testament was not written in Greek, but the sin of blasphemy is still addressed.  Specifically, any curse or defamatory speech against God qualifies as vain use of God’s name and was forbidden under the Law of Moses.

c.        Notice Psalm 139:20 – "For they speak against You wickedly, and Your enemies take Your name in vain.”

                                                             4.      It is even possible to take God’s name in vain without speaking it at all.

a.       This occurs when God’s people profane (misuse, treat with contempt) His name through behavior that disregards God’s holiness and brings shame on Him.

b.       Consider these passages from God’s law for Israel.

i.         "You shall not give any of your offspring to offer them to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.” (Lev. 18:21; see also 20:3)

ii.        "They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God…” (Lev. 21:6 regarding priests; see also 22:2)

c.        Notice the example of Ezekiel 36:16-23.

i.         The Jews had defiled themselves with idolatry, so God sent them into captivity as punishment.  When they arrived in Babylon, God’s name was profaned because of their presence there.

ii.        However, God said, "But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went…I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst.  Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” declares the Lord GOD, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.” (vv. 21, 23)

B.      Rather than vainly using God’s name, Israel was to have the highest regard for the name of God.

                                                             1.      Every utterance of the name of Jehovah should have provoked Israel to love, fear, gratitude and joy.  In this way, they should have honored and glorified God with any mention of His name.

                                                             2.      Notice the high and exalted place of God’s name according to the Psalms.

a.       "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together.” (Ps. 34:3)

b.       "Willingly I will sacrifice to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O LORD, for it is good.” (Ps. 54:6)

c.        "Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.” (Ps. 148:13)

C.      Anyone in Israel who showed irreverence for God’s name was to be punished severely.

                                                             1.      Although the third commandment did not specify the punishment for taking God’s name in vain, it guaranteed that God would punish such a sinner.

                                                             2.      Other parts of God’s law to Israel declared that the penalty for violating the third commandment was death.

a.       Deuteronomy 18:20  declares this penalty for false prophets – "But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”

b.       Deuteronomy 28:58-59 shows how the failure to keep the whole Law of Moses was a violation of the third commandment and was severely punished –  "If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses.” (read through v. 68 for full penalties)

c.        Death was also the penalty for blasphemy according to Leviticus 24:16 – "Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him.  The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.”

III.   THE MODERN APPLICATION

A.      The name of God is no less holy today than it has ever been, and we must treat it properly.

                                                             1.      Careless or false use of the name of God and blasphemy are always serious offenses against God.

a.       Using God’s name as an interjection ("Oh my God”, etc.) is a careless and common offense that reveals an unholy attitude.

b.       Any speech that denies God or His word is blasphemous and damning to the speaker.

                                                             2.      A proper regard for God’s name is expressed in the model prayer taught by Jesus: "Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Matt. 6:9).

a.       The word "hallowed” is translated from the Greek word hagiazō, which is most often translated as "sanctified” in English New Testaments.

b.       This means that God’s name should be set apart and exalted from common things.  His name should not leave our mouths without the holy esteem and fear of our hearts.

                                                             3.      Our regard for God’s holy name must also be evident by our holy way of life.

a.       Our good works should bring glory to the name of God (Matt. 5:16; 1Pet. 2:12).

b.       Any deed that we claim to do in the name of Christ must be according to the will of the Father in the word of God (Matt. 7:21-23).

c.        Nothing that we do should ever put our Lord to shame in the eyes of others (Heb. 6:6) or cause others to speak against the Lord (Rom. 2:24; 2Pet. 2:2).

B.      Those who take God’s name in vain today will be punished severely and eternally.

                                                             1.      Careless use of God’s name will result in condemnation at the Judgment.

a.       In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus commented upon the blasphemy of the Pharisees – "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

b.       In the case of the Pharisees, they had committed the unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit by attributing Christ’s miraculous works to demons.  Of one who commits this sin, the Lord said, "It shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come” (Matt. 12:32).

                                                             2.      Those who deny the Lord and blaspheme against Him will pay the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (Matt. 10:32-33; 2Thess. 1:8-10; 1John 2:22-23).

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      Thankfully, offenses against the name of God can be forgiven through the gospel of Christ (with the exception of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; Matt. 12:31-32; 1Tim. 1:12-16).  Let us be careful to avoid such sins altogether.

B.      The next lesson will be on the fourth commandment – "Remember the Sabbath Day.”