Third Commandment

Q59: What is the third commandment?

A: The third commandment is, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord my God in vain: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain

Q60: What is required in the third commandment?

A: The third commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God’s names, titles, attributes, ordinances, words, and works.

A61: What is forbidden in the third commandment?

A: The third commandment forbids all profaning and abusing of ant thing whereby God makes Himself known.

Q62: What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?

A: The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that howsoever the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape His righteous judgment.

Main Proposition:

Statement of Doctrine or Application

Just as our names are important to us, so is God’s name important to him. As truth heralds and believer’s in Christ we too must protect God’s “good name”

The Old Testament does an incredible job at breaking down scripture and taking us along the journey of the Jews up to this point

We talked a few weeks ago about the incredible humanly unpredictable journey that took the Jews from slaves to Egypt to this exact moment when God is giving the law through Moses which will ultimately be fulfilled through Jesus.

God expressed his love to his people when he gave them the opportunity to use his name to communicate with others.

But what happens when we break this commandment?

God demands all people that his name be used with honor and reverence.

If it is not done so then there will be punishment

Why is it that only Jesus can fulfill the laws that Moses is presenting to the Jews? (Group Answer)

The first commandment is not to have any other gods before our one and true God

The second commandment is we shall have no other idols

Today we are talking about a commandment that is very much overlooked, easily forgotten about in this world, but one that is so important to know and understand.

Why do you think the third commandment should be paid attention to in the world today?

What verses do we have that talks about the language that we use?

James 3:5b–6 ESV

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

This is what we are talking about today

Matthew 15:18–19 ESV

18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

Here is the thing: People today do not even realize it when they are talking in this way.

It is so normalized that it is second nature

What we talked about in the Q&A with Pastor Kenny a few weeks ago. What are you filling your time wit?

ILLUSTRATION ON WHITEBOARD PIE CHART THAT IS 24 HOURS

There have been so many times when I was working in the gym and talking to someone and every other word was either cursing or blaspheming the Lord, but they were professing believers.

Maybe this is you, maybe it’s not: But when you are talking to someone outside of church. What is the language that you are using about God, His Church, His Children? Does your language show people how a true believer of Christ should act? I want you to truly think and reflect on this.

Because there are people that don’t think twice about how they talk, show up to church on Sunday, put that Christian

Intro:

Statement of proposition

What does naming in Scripture accomplish?

Naming is an exercise of sovereign control

The one who gives the name to someone has some measure of control over the one who receives it

Parent and Child

Conquerer and land

God to his people

Naming is characterizing (Shows Authority)

To name somebody it is going to say something about them

Yahweh: The one true God, describes God as the ultimate Lord, describes His attributes of control, authority and presence.

God names himself and in by doing so he presents an authoritative declaration of who he is and what he does

Naming is locating (Presence of an individual)

It marks a person

A way of locating someone in a crowd

When someone forgets your name, laughs at it or mispronounces it you feel slighted and slightly offended

Why does this matter?

God is also identified with his name

To praise his name is to praise him; to despise his name is to despise him

We are saved for “His name sake”

Psalm 106:8 ESV

8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power.

We are to give thanks to his name, trust in his name and we are to bear his name

Main Point #1: What does it mean to blaspheme the name of our Lord?

Statement

There is more then just taking the Lord’s name in vain, but there is so much more to it

Lets think about that for a minute and come up with others ways that the world can blaspheme God

Prove

Lets dive into this verse a little bit:

Leviticus 19:12 ESV

12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

We see the warning of slander and hatred towards God and our neighbors

White Board Illustration:

What does it mean to you to swear by God’s name falsely?

What about “preachers” that are promoting homosexuality in the name of God?

“God wants you to be happy” so continue in your sinful lifestyle in my namesake

Prosperity churches that are taking people’s money in the name of God?

“God is going to bless you the more that you tithe”

Flowers in texts

Psalm 24:3–4 ESV

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

People claim to know the Lord, love the Lord and with that saving faith in the Lord we have that fear of Him meaning that we are in awe from his power and authority.

If someone is swearing falsely by the Lord, blaspheming the Lord’s name do you think they truly know God the Father and the Son of God?

How does the concept of the "fear of the Lord" influence your perspective on life and faith? (TAKE ANSWERS)

Illustrations

Apply or Confront

For some application I want us to think about as we go into our week: How is our language glorifying God and Jesus and if not. What language am I using that is lessening his statue, authority and power.

Main Point #2: Bearers of God’s Name

Statement

As Christians or people that profess the faith we are bearers of God’s name and because of that we have a responsibility that is much different than a nonbeliever

Prove

Why is it important as Christians to properly and biblically bear God’s name?

What does it mean to bear God’s name?

God places his name upon his people

Our identity is to be the people of God

We bring that identity wherever we go

Whenever we violate his covenant, we bring dishonor on the name of God that we bear

We injure God’s reputation

Any sin is a violation of the third commandment (Not just a verbal check) it’s an overall heart check

Matthew 23:13–22 ESV

13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.

In Matthew’s Gospel why would this be important for him to point out? What is the audience for Matthew’s Gospel?

Jewish audience

The Temple to the Jews is a very important cornerstone in their faith

Jesus is talking about where does their heart belong? To something that is actually important or something that they make to be more important in their minds?

Here we have the Pharisees shunning God’s righteousness, seeking to establish a righteousness on their own and teaching others to do so.

If someone swore by “by the temple” his oath was not considered binding, but if he swore “by the gold of the temple” he could not break his word without being subject to the penalties of Jewish law.

Here Jesus is making it clear that swearing by those things is virtually the same as swearing by God himself.

Here we have the Jews that are hesitating to use the name of God in their oaths, fearing his wrath if they failed to do what they had sworn. So they used other names, hoping that the consequences of failure would not be as bad.

But Jesus is saying that when we swear by anything at all we are in effect swearing by God.

The holiness of the temple depends on God.

Illustrations

Apply or Confront

Are you aware that you are always bearers of God’s name? All of our actions, language, body language towards everybody. When you say “I am a follower of Christ” that is the lens that people will judge you by.

If you curse, use God’s name in vain, do drugs, drink etc. People are going to look at you and say I guess that is how follower’s of Christ act.

Are you representing God and Christ in the manner in which they deserve?

Main Point #3: The meaninglessness of “Taking” the name and vanity

Statement

God is identified with believers.

Prove

Psalm 24:3–4 ESV

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

One of the moral qualifications for standing in God’s presence is not to lift up one’s soul to what is false.

In Hebrew “what is false” is translated to “in vain” in the third commandment.

When we see “his holy place, his soul” what is meant here?

It replaces the name of the Lord your God.

Here in the context of temple worship, to lift one’s soul to vanity is the equivalent of lifting Gods name to vanity

God is so identified with believers that to defile our own lives, soul is to defile his name.

we see that this commandment governs all of life.

When we talk about vanity what comes to your mind?

Excess pride, admiration of one’s own appearance or achievements

In the context of Psalm 24:4 in lifting up one’s soul to vanity is parallel to swearing deceitfully.

Do you think of it that way?

When we trivialize that name, we attempt to dilute that meaning and therefore falsify or distort it.

A use of the divine name that reduces its significance and power.

Illustrations

Apply or Confront

Application Points:

It is a gift from God that he gave us the opportunity to use his name and to communicate with others

Catechism 1: What is the chief end of mankind? Glorify God and enjoy Him forever

Can we do that, truly do that if we are taking his name in vain or falsely misusing his name

I want us to think, pray and reflect on times when our actions or words, nonverbal communication cues may not bring God and Christ the glory they deserve

Pray in those times.

Nobody is perfect, but this commandment must be on our mind especially in the world we live in today where communication is spoken, written, recorded and shared for millions of people to see.

Think about our actions as believers and followers of Christ