Commandment Three

Exodus 20:7 ““You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

King James Version Chapter 20

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.

10 Commandments for Kids

Always treat God’s Name with respect

Always say God’s name with love and respect

Do not swear

You may not swear. Use God’s holy name only in a loving way, never to express anger and frustration

Share your things cheerfully

Deuteronomy 5:11 ““ ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

Psalm 139:20 “They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.”

Leviticus 18:21 “You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.”

Leviticus 20:3 “I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name.”

1. Hebrew names were often a picture of personality and character

Genesis 32- Jacob changed to israel

Ruth 1- Naomi changed to Mara

2. (Shawe) Vain- means emptiness, nothingness, or vanity

The Hebrew phrase combines the verb nasa (“to take up”) and the noun shawe (“falsehood” or “vanity, uselessness”)

Isaiah 59:4 “No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.”

3. The word (Shawe) vain held an evil connotation at the during this time and was attributed to mysticism.

1 Kings 18:20–40 “So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” And …”

4. False swearing was also a means of speaking vanity of the name YAHWEH.

Leviticus 19:12 “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.”

Nehemiah 12- Signed an agreement to uphold all the commandments and entire law

Acts 3:6 “But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!””

5. Individuals who failed to hold to this commandment would not be blameless in the sight of the LORD.

Mark 10:17–27 “And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier…”

6. The centrality of this commandment emphasizes God’s desire for devoted worship from His people.

1-5 Chiasm

Psalm 3:7–8 “Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah”

a Save me, b O my God c for thou has smitten d all my enemies e on the cheekbone; e The teeth d of the wicked c thou hast broken; b to Jehovah, a the salvation