99. What is required in the third Commandment?

That we must not by cursing,1) or by false swearing,2) nor yet by unnecessary oaths,3) profane or abuse the name of God; nor even by our silence and connivance be partakers of these horrible sins in others; and in summary, that we use the holy name of God in no other way than with fear and reverence,4) so that He may be rightly confessed5) and worshipped6) by us, and be glorified in all our words and works.7)

1) And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: an this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp, and the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) and they put him in ward, that the mind of the Lord might be shewed them. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head and let all the congregation stone him. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. Lev. 24:10-16.

2) And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. Lev. 19:12.

3) But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Matt. 5:37.

But above all things, my brethren swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. James 5:12.

4) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Isa. 45:23.

5) Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Matt. 10:32.

6) I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. I Tim. 2:8.

7) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Rom. 2:24.

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own master worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. I Tim. 6:1.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Col. 3:16,17.

* But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. I Peter 3:15.

BACK