SCRIPTURE READING: Psalms 8:1-9
GOLDEN TEXT:: Exodus 20:7  

1. Who was it that verbally spoke to Moses and the children of Israel? (Exodus 20:1). Did the Lord God bring Israel out of bondage? (Exodus 20:2). What did God do to keep the children of Israel free from bondage? He gave them His Ten Commandments.

2. Did God command His people not to take His name in vain? (Exodus 20:7). What does the word "vain" mean?

Note: Adam Clarke’s Commentary states: "This precept not only forbids all false oaths, but all common swearing where the name of God is used, or where He is appealed to as a Witness of the truth. It also necessarily forbids all light and irreverent mention of God, or any of His attributes, and this the original word ‘lashshav’ particularly imports; and we may safely add to all these that every prayer, etc. that is not accompanied with deep reverence and the genuine spirit of piety is here condemned also."

The Believer’s Study Bible Notes states: "To "take" the Lord's name meant to "lift it up" or "use" it. To do something "in vain" meant to do it with no good purpose or effect. In this case, "in vain" includes both the frivolous use of God's name and its wicked or deceitful use, i.e., in an attempt to deceive (e.g., swearing to a lie) or to accomplish a selfish or wicked goal (e.g., false prophecy, claiming God said something when He did not)."

3. What happens if you take the "Lord your God’s name" in vain? (Exodus 20:7).

Note: The LORD will not hold him guiltless. Notice that this is the only commandment with the threat of immediate punishment.

4. Let’s see how this commandment is translated in the Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh Translation: "You shall not swear falsely by the name of the LORD your God; for the LORD will not clear one who swears falsely by His name."

Note: To ‘swear’ is to utter or take solemnly an oath which is a formal calling upon God to witness to the truth of what one says or to witness that one sincerely intends to do what one says. The Jewish Study Bible states: "The swearer proved his sincerity by invoking punishment from God, who cannot be deceived or evaded. A false oath would show contempt for God by implying that the swearer does not fear His punishment."

5. Are we to profane God’s name? (Leviticus 19:12).

Note: To ‘profane’ is "to treat something sacred with abuse, irreverence, contempt, to desecrate, to use in a vulgar manner, to wound, to stain."

6. We are not to take God’s name in vain by our words or our actions. What happened to the son of an Israelite woman who blasphemed God’s name and cursed? (Leviticus 24:10-16).

Note: The LORD did not hold him guiltless. His punishment was swift. Taking God’s name in vain has severe consequences. Obviously today the punishment is not as fast as it was in the time of Moses. God is allowing men time to repent.

7. If you make a vow to God, do you have to keep it? (Deuteronomy 23:21-23). Is it a sin if you break a vow? (Same verse).

Note: A ‘vow’ is a solemn promise or assertion; specifically one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition. We should be very careful in making vows. There are two important vows that we should take very seriously. One is our marriage vows and the other is our baptismal vow.

8. What did Jesus say about swearing? (Matthew 5:33-37). Did James, the Lord’s brother, give similar instructions regarding swearing? (James 5:12).

9. Will the man, who will be the end time beast of prophecy, use God’s name in vain? (Revelation 13:5-6, 16:9,11,21).

Note: Blasphemy is the act of insulting

or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God, and the act of claiming the attributes of deity .

10. Did the priests take God’s name in vain by their actions? (Malachi 1:6-11).

Note: The priests of Malachi’s day despised God’s name and polluted His altar. They offered blind, lame and sick animal sacrifices. They did not honor and reverence God.

11. Did the apostle Peter warn about false prophets and false teachers in New Testament times who would blaspheme God’s truth? (2 Peter 2:1-2). Would they exploit God’s people? (Verse 3). Would these false ministers have eyes full of adultery? (Verse 14). Would they forsake the right way and follow the way of Balaam (who was in it for the money)? (Verse 15). Are these false preachers like wells without water? (Verse 17). Do they speak great swelling words that are empty of God’s truth? (Verse 18).

Note: Peter is saying there are going to be religious leaders who take the name of Christ and claim to be God’s servants, teach false doctrines and cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of. These false religious leaders are in it for the power and the money making merchandise of God’s people. Many church pastors have become involved sexually with their parishioners and pedofile priests are abusing young boys. Be careful to whom you send your tithes and offerings to.

12. Should we deny God’s name? (Revelation 3:8, Titus 1:16, 2 Tim. 3:5).

13. How excellent is God’s name? (Psalms 8:1-9).

Note: The word ‘excellent’ can be defined as: majestic, powerful, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty, noble, principal, worthy and stately.

In Conclusion: God’s third commandment commands us not to take His name in vain. Keeping the third commandment shows that we have a deep love and respect for God and His name. Are you willing to obey the Third Commandment?

1.) (Exodus 20:1-2 NKJV) And God spoke all these words, saying: {2} "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

2.) (Exodus 20:7 NKJV) "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.

5.) (Leviticus 19:12 NKJV) 'And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

6.) (Leviticus 24:10-16 NKJV) Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and this Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought each other in the camp. {11} And the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed; and so they brought him to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) {12} Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the LORD might be shown to them. {13} And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, {14} "Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. {15} "Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. {16} 'And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.

7.) (Deuteronomy 23:21-23 NKJV) "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. {22} "But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. {23} "That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth.

8.) (Matthew 5:33-37 NKJV) "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' {34} "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; {35} "nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. {36} "Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. {37} "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

(James 5:12 NKJV) But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.

9.) (Revelation 13:5-6 NKJV) And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. {6} Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

(Revelation 16:9 NKJV) And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

(Revelation 16:11 NKJV) They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

(Revelation 16:21 NKJV) And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.

10.) (Malachi 1:6-11 NKJV) "A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?' {7} "You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.' {8} And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts. {9} "But now entreat God's favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts. {10} "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," Says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. {11} For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations," Says the LORD of hosts.

11.) (2 Peter 2 NKJV) But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. {2} And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. {3} By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. {4} For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; {5} and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; {6} and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; {7} and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked {8} (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds); {9} then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, {10} and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, {11} whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. {12} But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, {13} and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, {14} having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. {15} They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; {16} but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. {17} These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. {18} For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. {19} While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. {20} For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. {21} For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. {22} But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

12.) (Revelation 3:8 NKJV) "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

(Titus 1:16 NKJV) They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

(2 Timothy 3:5 NKJV) having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

13.) (Psalms 8 NKJV) O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! {2} Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. {3} When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, {4} What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? {5} For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. {6} You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, {7} All sheep and oxen; Even the beasts of the field, {8} The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas. {9} O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!