THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The Ten Commandments was taught by Dr. James Modlish

The Third Commandment
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain... (Ex. 20:7)

Introduction:

God places great importance upon His name as demonstrated in (Neh. 9:5), "...Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise."

America is know worldwide as a nation of great cussers. God, Jesus, and Christ are used in daily conversation all over this land in a cursing, derogatory manner. Jesus condemned this sin in (Matt. 5:33-37). However, there are many other ways to take the name of the Lord in vain - we shall examine some of them:

 

I. TO SPEAK IRREVERENTLY OF THE NAME OF THE LORD

"...that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, the Lord thy God." (Deut. 28:58) David spoke of God with reverence (Ps. 50:1; 83:18)

1. (a). a common violation of this today is to joke about the Lord and other sacred things.
   

2. (b). reference to God as "the man upstairs" etc. are a sign of contempt and therefore, it is to take the name of the Lord in vain.
   

3. (c). Notice the judgment of the young man who cursed God in (Lev. 24:10-23).
   

 

II. WHEN A LIFE BETRAYS A PROFESSION

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him..." (Titus 1:16). Paul wrote Jewish Christians in Rome and said "For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you..." (Rom. 2:24). Their verbal profession had been inconsistent with their lives and consequently it was an occasion of blasphemy. -There are too many who worship God with their lips, but not with the heart. God calls for the heart, "my Son, give me thin heart..." (Prov. 23:26). See (Isa. 29:13).

 

III. TO PRAY TO GOD, BUT DO NOT BELIEVE IN HIM

"...he that believeth not God hath made him a liar;..." (1 Jn. 5:10) How many times are prayers uttered that are not accompanied by faith. God spoke of Abraham and said, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;" (Rom. 4:20)..

 

IV. TO PROFANE AND ABUSE HIS WORD

A. Peter tells us there would be those who would profane the Word of God by speaking scornfully of the Second Coming of Christ. (2 Peter 3:4) -We need to remember that God has magnified His word above all His name (Ps. 138:2). The result is to speak scornfully of any portion or doctrine of the Word of God is to blaspheme the name of the Lord.

B. One example of abusing the Word is when it is called upon for defense of sin.

1. (a). Covetousness is supported by "six days shalt thou labour" and "he who provides not for his family is worse than an infidel."
   

2. (b). The wrong kind of anger is supported by "Be ye angry and sin not."
   

3. (c). A drunkard is quick to quote "take a little wine for the stomachs sake".
   

 

V. TO ATTACH GOD'S NAME TO ANY WICKED ACTION

A. Absalom said to David, "I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord,..." (2 Sam. 15:7). This was done to cover the rebellion in his heart.

B. Saul said, "...Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord." (1 Sam. 15:13) This he said to cover his own disobedience.

C. Jacob cob lied to his father Isaac about the venison and said, "the Lord thy God brought it to me" (Gen. 27:20). The purpose of this was to steal his brother's blessing.

 
VII. TO SPEAK EVIL OF GOD

"The people spake against God" (Num. 21:5). This is done by murmuring and complaining about what God has provided for us. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen. 18:25) The second part of the commandment reminds us that no one will be held guiltless if he takes the name of the Lord in vain.

Why are they not guiltless?

[1]. It brings the name of the Lord to a common level. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2:11)

[2]. It is a name that is a key to prayer, (Jn. 14:13,14; 15:7,16; 16:23,24).

[3]. It is the name connected with the greatest transaction on earth - "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved". (Rom. 10:13)

"A woman told her husband, that of her three sons one of them only was his: the father dying, desires the executors to find out which was the true natural son, and bequeath all his estate to him. The father being dead, the executors set up his corpse against a tree, and delivered to every one of these three sons a bow and arrows, telling them, that he who could shoot nearest the father' heart should have the whole estate. Two sons shot as near as they could to his heart, but the but the third felt nature so to work in him, that he refused to shoot; whereupon the executors judged him to be the true son, and gave him all the estate. Such are the true children of God, fear to shoot at him; but such as are bastards, and not sons, care not though they shoot at him in heaven with their oaths and curses."
- Thomas Watson (1620-1686)

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