The Third Commandment - It's Not Just Cussing!

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."

Most people think they know all about this commandment. But the fact is, there is a lot more to what God was saying than just cussing or asking God to "damn that". When we dig into this verse, we'll find a lot more to the third commandment.

What Name?

First of all, let's be clear what name we're talking about here.

In the Old Testament, He revealed Himself as Yahweh - the great I AM THAT I AM. This name was (and still is) so sacred to the Jews that they refused to spell it out, even in the Scriptures. This is the same name that is sometimes translated as "Jehovah" - and is usually just written out as "the LORD". 

The name of Yahweh is found inside many common Jewish names. 

Abijah - "Yahweh is My Father"

Elijah - "Yahweh is My God"

Jeremiah - "Yahweh will Exalt"

Josiah - "Yahweh has Healed"

There is one great Jewish name that mentions Yahweh. It is a name that has had many variants through the centuries: Hosea, Isaiah, Joshua...but the full and proper Hebrew name is "Jehoshua". It means "Yahweh is Salvation". This is the name, when translated into Greek, of Jesus.  

THIS is the name Paul spoke of when He wrote Philippians 2:9-11 - "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

It isn't just the name that carries the power. Since the very first Joshua, there have been many people who have had the same name. But why don't we talk about the prophet Hosea with the same reverence we use with Jesus? The reason the name of Jesus carries power is because of the person who stands behind it! It is the word we use to identify the one true God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth!

So if there's one name that deserves our honor and respect - If there's one name that should demand our immediate attention - it is the name of Jesus. This is the name we're talking about in the third commandment. 

#1 - Don't Use His Name As An Exclamation

This is the most well-known meaning of the third commandment. This is a matter of honor and respect. Don't take the name of Jesus and use it just to express surprise or amazement. How insulting is it to take the name of the Lord of Heaven and earth, the name that carries all the power and majesty of God Himself - and reduce it to mean "wow that's good" or "wow that's bad".

Shouldn't we have a little more respect that that?

#2 - Don't Use His Name In Empty Speech

How often have you heard people - even believers - use this awesome name to make a joke? Do we really think that name should get a response of laughter?

How many Christians repeated the "Dear Baby Jesus" prayer just to be funny? Didn't they stop to think about Whose name they're using? Do you think it crossed their mind that He's not a baby anymore - and that He carefully watches over His name?

But jokes aren't the only time His name is used in an empty way. 

Have you ever attached that name to a prayer that you didn't really believe...or mean...or even think about? How many times is this powerful name invoked in powerless prayers? This is reducing that great name down to an empty repetition.

Speaking of Jesus in an empty, irreverent way is taking that name in vain.

#3 - Don't Carry His Name and Do Nothing

The Hebrew word for "take" in this command literally means "to bear or to carry". When you and I were saved, we began to carry Jesus' name on our lives. We are literally representing Him to the world - they see HIM through US.
When we took that name, what did we do with it?
Did we take it "in vain" - with no purpose?

How have you represented Him in your life? The Christian ("Christ-like") life isn't meant to be a life at ease, with no tasks to complete or responsibilities to meet. Every one of us has a role to play in the body of Christ.

He gave you the power of His name so that you could change the world with it! Don't take that name unless you mean it!


As we move on from here, lets remember this warning from Exodus 20:7 - "for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."

So let's keep that name sacred in our lives, and show Him reverence when we are speaking OF Him...and when we are speaking FOR Him.