Ethics 3rd and 4th Commandments Revised 09-30-2025

Honor my Name and Day!

Honor my Name!

Exodus 20:7 (NASB 2020)

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.

What does this mean to you?

I want to share something with you that I never thought about until it was point out in a book that I am reading. Two of the Ten Commandments have to do with sins of speech. This one and the nineth one “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

I want to share a quote with you by Pastor Jerry Vines.

Basic Bible Sermons on the Ten Commandments Chapter 3: Be Careful with God’s Name (v. 7)

One of God’s most beautiful gifts to mankind is speech. Among many things this is one that distinguishes people from animals. God has given man the ability to express himself in marvelous, unusual ways. Isn’t it a tragedy that mankind would take the beautiful gift of speech and misuse it? To misuse that gift, for instance, to curse persons. In

What’s in a name?

A person's name is the greatest connection to their own identity and individuality. Some might say it is the most important word in the world to that person. ... When someone remembers our name after meeting us, we feel respected and more important. It makes a positive and lasting impression on us. A name is much more than just a name! Hidden within your name is a SPECIAL meaning.

Take my name for instance. “Robert” means "bright fame" and comes from Old Germanic elements, with hrod meaning "fame" and beraht meaning "bright". This powerful name has German and English origins and became popular among royalty in the Middle Ages.

What about Jacob? In Hebrew it means “He holds the heel” this is in reference to the birth of Esau and Jacob. Do you remember that God changed Jacob’s name? What did “He” change it to?

Israel which means “he strives with God” or “God Struggle” meaning Jacob struggled with God.

Who remembers “Nabel” do you remember what his name meant? “foolish”

Typically a persons name will tell about that persons character, or would be a parents hope for the child, or would be given in the midst of certain circumstances. Like when Jacob renamed Ben-Oni (son of my pain), to Benjamin (son of my right hand) a word suggesting comfort and protection, indicating the support he hoped to receive from this last child in his old age. And it indicates a place of high honor.

And so it is with God’s name. God is not His name. God is a title, like father, dad, president, etc. God’s name is self chosen “YWHW” “I Am” or “The One Who Is” Better yet lets hear from God.

Exodus 3:14 NASB95

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

You may be thinking. Robert, God has other names too. I would say maybe not names but possibly titles? Here are a few.

Elohim: Mighty Creator Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Is Peace Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Will Provide Jehovah-Mekadeah: The Lord Who Sanctifies Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord Is My Righteousness Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord Who Heals Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord Is My Shepherd Jehovah Nissi: the Lord our Banner

There are over 300 names/titles for God given to us in the Bible. No one name/title can adequately convey all that God is.

And so I ask. How many of you like it when your name is abused? There was a time that I would have gotten physical with someone who would have abused my name. Definitely, verbally hostile.

Lets look at this word “vain”.

What is the meaning of this word?

Webster's defines vain as 1) having no real value or significance; worthless, empty, idle, hollow, etc.; 2) without force or effect; futile, fruitless, unprofitable, unavailing, etc.

Hebrew word is Saw: pronounced “shawv” meaning: worthless, futile, inconsequential, false, emptiness, deceit/deceitful, empty/emptiness, lies, pointless.

Most people when they think of this commandment they only consider it in a cuss word. But it is much more than this.

It is using the name of God in anyway that does not show or give reverence to God.

There are at least three ways this command is commonly disobeyed.

· Profanity: Using the name of God in blasphemy and cursing.

· Frivolity: Using the name of God in a superficial, stupid way.

· Hypocrisy: Claiming the name of God but acting in a way that disgraces Him.

What about breaking a vow/oath/promise when you use the name of God, or Jesus. Jesus states in:

Matthew 5:33–37 (NASB 2020)

33 “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But make sure your statement is, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin.

You may be thinking to yourselves. It is only words. Well yes, it is. But, words do matter, words show who your are. More than that though, God is our creator, he is our Father, he sent his Son to die for us, so that we could have eternal life. He deserves our respect, our reverence, he actually demands this of his followers!

Look at:

Verse 2: “I am the Lord your God!”

Verse 3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Verse 4: “You shall not make for yourself an idol.”

Quote from my Professor Dr. Feddes: Our use of language is especially significant in relation to God. A mouth that uses the name of God lightly reveals a heart that takes God lightly. A mouth that speaks God's name only with reverence, that speaks of holy things with great care and utmost respect, expresses a heart that honors God. Who we are and what we think of God comes through in how we speak.

If you do not think that our words do not matter. You may want listen to what Jesus has to say:

Matthew 12:34–37 (NASB 2020)

34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. 35 The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. 36 But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

When it comes to words it appears that the vocabulary of our younger people is ever shrinking or is a contest to see who can use the most filthy language between two people. Sadly the language that some people use is reinforced through TV, radio/music, movies and video games.

Basic Bible Sermons on the Ten Commandments The Desecration of God’s Name

A lot of people seem like they went to school in hell and the devil was their teacher. A lot of people seem to have a garbage can for a mind. They seem to specialize in new and twisted ways of defiling the holy name of God. It is a pointless thing for person to use profanity.

Think about this.

Basic Bible Sermons on the Ten Commandments The Desecration of God’s Name

Sometimes people go to a ball game and one crowd starts chanting to the other—“Go to hell, Florida, go to hell, Florida.” Another crowd chants—“Go to hell, Florida State, go to hell, Florida State.” People think that’s cute, funny. Think about that—for one human being to say to another human being “Go to hell.” A person who says that has no conception whatsoever of what hell is all about.

What about second hand cussing?

Darn is an abbreviation for damn.

Gosh is a euphemism for God.

Golly is a euphemism for God.

Gee is a euphemism for Jesus.

Gee whiz is a euphemism for Jesus Christ.

Think about that for a bit. I sure did when I studied for this message.

Now consider the rest of:

Exodus 20:7 (NASB 2020)

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.

Romans 14:10–12 (NASB 2020)

10 But as for you, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or you as well, why do you regard your brother or sister with contempt? For we will all appear before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written:

“As I live, says the Lord, to me every knee will bow,

And every tongue will give praise to God.”

12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB 2020)

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

These verses do show that our words matter as well as our actions. The Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes his name in vain. God does not tell us what this punishment will be. As a Christian it may be logical consequences of your actions (meaning if you do not revere God/his name, how faithful of a servant will you be? Maybe a lack of rewards at the Bema seat?) As an unrepentant sinner your punishment will be in the lake of fire/separation from God for all eternity.

These verses from Romans and 2 Corinthians do not pertain to our salvation as our salvation has been secured by our faith in Jesus and our repentance of sin. We do not stand before Christ to be criticized, condemned or admonished. As a righteous and perfect judge he does require us to give an account of our words and deeds whether good or bad. Then we are given our rewards, our crowns.

Matthew 5:12 (NASB 2020)

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Luke 6:23 (NASB 2020)

23 Rejoice on that day and jump for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For their fathers used to treat the prophets the same way.

Luke 6:35 (NASB 2020)

35 But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people.

1 Corinthians 3:14 (NASB 2020)

14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.

The Imperishable Crown spoken of in 1 Corinthians 9:24-24 Paul speaks of running a race, not for a perishable crown, but for a imperishable crown.

The Crown of Rejoicing 1 Thessalonians 2:19 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?

The Crown of Righteousness 2 Timothy 4:8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness

The Crown of Glory 1 Peter 5:4 “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”

The Crown of Life Revelation 2:10 Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Do not be frivolous with the name of God or with His Son.

God is our creator, He is our Father, He loves His children with so much love that I cannot understand it perfectly. And His Son Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the name that is above every name, the name at some point in time every knee will bow in heaven above, on the earth beneath, and under the earth, and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord. And the Lord Jesus is the name that is called upon for salvation.

Why would you abuse these names? Why have I abused these names.

Romans 10:13 NASB95

13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Honor my Day! Is this a blessing or a burden?

Exodus 20:8–11 (NASB 2020)

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 For six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your resident who stays with you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

What is the meaning of the word “Sabbath”? It means “to rest, to cease work”

Are Christians required to keep the Sabbath? The Bible Project has the best answer to this question: Sabbath is not a commandment we are bound to; it's a promise we're invited to enjoy.

But some people interpret this commandment to mean “Thou shalt be miserable on the Lord’s Day” God never intended for His day to be a miserable day-to be a dragon His people.

If you did not catch what I called our day of worship. I called it the Lord’s Day. You see as Christians we do not worship on the Sabbath, that is Saturday. We worship on Sunday, on the day that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead and defeated the evil one.

The Sabbath was a sign between the Lord and the nation of Israel.

Exodus 31:17 NASB95

17 “It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

Pastor Jerry Vines states: In the New Testament the Sabbath, Commandment #4 is not reiterated but the other nine are in one form or another. The Sabbath was specifically give to the Nation of Israel to commemorate the creativity of God

He also states there are many Sabbaths:

The initial Sabbath. Genesis 2:1–3 “1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

The Temporal (earthly) Sabbath. Refer to Exodus 31:7.

Festival Sabbaths (Leviticus 23:23-36). Feast of Trumpets (7th month on the first day of the month). Feast of Tabernacles (7th month on the 15th day of the month). These were to be observed yearly. These Sabbaths would not have always landed on a Saturday.

Agricultural Sabbath (Leviticus 25:1-8). The Israelites were to work/cultivate the land for six years and let it rest for 1 year. They failed to do this and they were punished for it. They were in the land for 490 years. They missed the 7th year 70 times. They were sent into captivity for each year that they missed (refer to Leviticus 26:32, 35).

Spiritual Sabbath. Hebrews 3 and 4.

Millennial Sabbath. Isaiah tells us that the children of Israel will once again restore the Sabbath. Isaiah 66:22–23 “22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the Lord, “So your offspring and your name will endure. 23 “And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me,” says the Lord.”

Eternal Sabbath.

Hebrews 4:9 NASB95

9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Revelation 14:13 NASB95

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

Just because the Sabbath is not reiterated in the New Testament does not mean that we forgo honoring a Sabbath.

John 14:15 (NASB 2020)

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Matthew 5:17–18 (NASB 2020)

17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!

Jeremiah 31:33 (NASB 2020)

33 “For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

God has not done away with his ethics, he has given us guidelines to live by. He has written the Law on our hearts. God in his infinite power could have created everything in seconds, in minutes, in hours, or in a day. God set the example that we are not to work constantly. That we do need to rest, that we do need time that we can focus on him, on others. This day of rest , it is not a do nothing day (meaning you just sit around and be a couch potato).

Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath in Mark 3: 1-6

A paralyzed man in John 5:1-18

His disciples picked grain on the Sabbath Mark 2: 23

Genesis 2:2–3 (NASB 2020)

2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Now the Pharisee’s were so focused on the Law that they forgot about compassion, about serving others, about shepherding their flock. They forgot about LOVE. They were so concerned about the Law and Works. Faith and Repentance held no value. They read the scriptures, they knew the scriptures but did not know how to apply the scriptures to their life. They were self-righteous.

As Christians, Jesus is our Sabbath, he is our rest. He is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Matthew 11:28–29 NASB 2020

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mark 2:28 (NASB 2020)

So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:27 (NASB 2020)

27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Quote from Got Questions: Jesus was restating the principle that the Sabbath rest was instituted to relieve man of his labors, just as He came to relieve us of our attempting to achieve salvation by our works. We no longer rest for only one day, but forever cease our laboring to attain God’s favor. Jesus is our rest from works now, just as He is the door to heaven, where we will rest in Him forever.

Or to put in in plain English:

The Sabbath was meant to serve man

But what I see happening in the church and/or to Christians are the very same things that the Pharisees were doing. They read the scriptures, they know the scriptures, but the application is lacking.

Statements are made:

As a Christian I am not under the law. So people work 7 days a week, or they work 5 days and fill up the other 2 days with sports, video games, hunting, fishing, everything but God. Or they give God 30 minutes on Sunday and then for the rest of the day it is all about self. I am guilty of this.

God wants a relationship with us. But how are we to build that relationship with our creator if we are not willing to (literally) give him the time of day. To receive his rest, to receive his presence. This is not necessarily any particular day of the week, we can rest in Jesus any day of the week, we can worship God any day of the week or every day of the week.

If you know more about your favorite sports team, have the football/baseball, etc. schedule memorized each year, your work SOP, when and where to find your weekly TV show, but cannot find the time to spend with the Lord, to rest in Jesus, to serve others, to Love others. Well, you have an issue.

You may want to consult the first and second commandment again. You may want to reconsider your priority’s.

Matthew 6:33 (NASB 2020)

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

Matthew 6:24 (NASB 2020)

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Or football, baseball, NASCAR, Your Spouse, Your Career, School, or anything that takes the place of God.

In closing as Christians we are called to Worship God, we are called to fellowship with other Christians, we are called to put God first. To just brush aside the commandments you do not like is a very dangerous decision.

Remember John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”