Introduction: The Importance of Names

We’re continuing our journey through the Ten Commandments in our series, “Old Laws for a New Life.” Today, we come to the Third Commandment. And just right away, before we talk about anything else, I just want us to read it together in Exodus 20:7:

I want you to imagine for a moment that you're at a large gathering. Maybe it's a wedding reception or a corporate event. The room is buzzing with conversation, laughter, the clinking of glasses. Suddenly, you hear someone call out your name. Not just your first name, but your full name. How do you react?

If you're like most people, you'd probably snap to attention. Your ears would perk up, your head would turn. Why? Because there's power in a name, especially when it's your name. Because names aren't just labels we slap on things. They carry weight. They convey identity, authority, relationship. Think about how differently you might react if you heard someone call out, "Hey, you!" versus hearing them call your name. Or consider how a child's demeanor changes when a parent uses their full name. "Jonathan Michael Smith, come here right now!" That full name carries a weight that "Johnny" doesn't.

This is the backdrop against which we need to understand the Third Commandment. When God says, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain," He's not just talking about vocabulary. He's talking about identity, authority, relationship. He's talking about how we carry His name in the world.

The Importance of God’s Name (Language and Historicity)

Let's dive deeper into the language of this commandment. In Hebrew, the verb used here is נָשָׂא "nāśā'," which means "to lift" or "carry." This verb is used all throughout the Old Testament, being used to describe a burden, carrying a load, or even raising one’s voice. In Psalm 24:4, it’s used to describe someone who has not “lifted up their soul to an idol.” So a more literal translation might be, "You shall not lift up or carry the name of the Lord your God in vain." And I point this out because it gives us a much richer understanding of what God is commanding here. It's not just about not saying certain words. It's about how we bear God's name in every aspect of our lives. It's about how we represent Him to the world around us. Think about how we use this concept of “carrying” someone’s name today. When an ambassador goes to a foreign country, they’re carrying the name of their nation with them. Their actions and their words are a reflection of the country that they’re representing. In a similar way, we carry God’s name as His ambassadors in this world (2 Cor. 5:20).

The word translated as "vain" שָׁוְא is "šāv'" in Hebrew. It carries connotations of emptiness or falsehood. It’s the same word used in Psalm 127:1:

So God is saying, "Don't carry my name in a way that's empty, meaningless, or false."

Now, let's consider the historical context. In ancient Israel, names were far more than just identifiers. More than just getting someone’s attention at an event, or a way to tell someone they’re in trouble just by using their full name. They were tied to one's nature, character, and authority. Think of how Jacob’s name (“supplanter”) was changed to Israel (“he struggles with God”) after his wrestling match with God in Genesis 32:28. Or how Naomi wanted to be called Mara (“bitter”) because of her experiences in Ruth 1:20.

This concept of a name being more than just something way say to someone is especially true of God's name. Remember the story of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3? When Moses asks God for His name, God responds with what? "I AM WHO I AM."

As we talked about in the first week, in Hebrew, this is closely related to the name Yahweh, which appears over 6,800 times in the Old Testament. This name expresses God's eternal, self-sufficient nature. It's not just a label; but rather, in and of itself the name is a revelation of who God is. It’s a name that encompasses all of God’s attributes: His holiness, His sovereignty, His unchanging nature. In fact, the Israelites considered God's name so sacred that they developed a practice of not even pronouncing it. When they came across YHWH in Scripture, they would substitute it with "Adonai," meaning "Lord." This practice continues (in a way) in many of our English translations, where LORD in all caps represents the divine name YHWH.

This reverence for God’s name extended to how they viewed God’s presence. The Tabernacle, and later the Temple, was seen as the place where God’s name dwelt (Deuteronomy 12:5). To profane or disrespect the Temple was to profane or disrespect God’s name. So, given the original language we just discussed, and what’s being said there – and taking into account how the Israelites historically viewed names, we can now see that when God commands us not to take His name in vain, He's saying, "Don't treat lightly what is of utmost importance. Don't misrepresent who I am. Don't claim my authority for your own purposes."

This commandment challenges us to consider how we're carrying God's name in our daily lives. It carries these element for us to consider like: Are we representing Him accurately? Are we treating His name – His very essence – with the reverence it deserves? Are we living in a way that brings honor to God’s name?

Magical Manipulation and the Power of God's Name

Now, let's consider another aspect of this commandment that might not be immediately obvious to us today, but was very much a reality in the lives of the Israelites who were first delivered these commandments. In the ancient Near East, it was common for people to use divine names in magical rituals or incantations. They believed that knowing and using a god's name gave them power over that god (Walton, 2006; Schwemer, 2020; Noegel, Walker, & Wheeler, 2003; Mirecki & Mayer, 2002; Brier, 1980). This concept of "name magic" was widespread in the ancient world. In Egyptian mythology, the goddess Isis gained power over the sun god Ra by learning his secret name. In Mesopotamian texts, we find elaborate rituals that involve invoking the names of various deities to achieve certain ends.

Israel's neighbors often invoked their gods' names to try to manipulate them into doing what they wanted. It was like a form of spiritual arm-twisting. "Oh great Baal, if you are really the almighty storm god, then send rain on our crops!" This practice was not just about prayer or supplication, but about trying to control the divine through the power of the name, and we see echoes of this in the Bible, though always in a negative light. Think of the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, calling on the name of their god from morning till noon (1 Kings 18:26). Or the common practice of swearing oaths by the names of gods, which the Israelites were forbidden to do (Joshua 23:7). And while this might seem foreign to us, is it really? I don’t think that we're as far removed from this mindset as we might like to think. How often do we hear people say things like, "God, if you're really there, then prove it by doing X"? This is remarkably similar to the ancient practice of trying to manipulate the divine through challenges or tests.

Or consider the so-called "prosperity gospel" that promises wealth and success if you just have enough faith and say the right prayers. It walks a fine line of faith and being a modern form of “name magic.” The idea that if we just say the right words (performing the right rituals), we can compel God to act on our behalf. And we can see an example of this kind of “name magic” thinking in the New Testament, in Acts 19. Some Jewish exorcists tried to cast out evil spirits by saying, "In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." They were trying to use Jesus' name like a magical formula, without any real relationship with Him. It didn't end well for them - the evil spirit overpowered them and they fled naked and wounded. This story is a powerful illustration of the difference between true spiritual authority and mere magical manipulation. The sons of Sceva (the Jewish exorcists) knew the name of Jesus, but they didn't know Jesus. They tried to use His name as a tool, a weapon, without understanding that true spiritual power comes from relationship and submission to God.

And this is another area where the Third Commandment reminds us that God's name is not a tool for us to use for our own purposes. I’ll put it this way: we don't manipulate God; we submit to Him. We don't command Him; we petition Him. We don't use His name to get what we want; we use it to glorify Him and align ourselves with His will.

So beyond just how we carry ourselves, the words way say, the actions we take, this commandment challenges us to examine something else: our prayer life. Are we approaching God with reverence and submission, or are we trying to twist His arm? Are we seeking His will, or are we just using religious language and jargon to justify our own desires?

Here are some examples to help you see if this is something you might be doing, maybe even unknowingly. Think about how we sometimes approach prayer. Do we ever find ourselves making deals with God?

• “If you help me pass this test, I promise I’ll study harder next time.”

• "Lord, if you heal my loved one, I'll never miss a Sunday service again."

• "Jesus, if you help me win this game, I'll volunteer at the homeless shelter every week."

• "God, if you fix my marriage, I'll stop drinking alcohol completely."

• "Father, if you get me out of this financial trouble, I'll read my Bible every day without fail."

• "Lord, if you help me lose weight, I'll dedicate my life to ministry."

• "God, if you let me win the lottery, I'll donate half to charity."

Or do we try to use Scripture as a way to obligate God?

• "God, you say that you have plans to prosper me (Jeremiah 29:11), so I want financial success in my business venture."

• "Lord, the Bible says that if two agree on anything, it will be done (Matthew 28:19). So my friend and I agree that I should get this job. Please make it happen."

• "Father, your Word states that whatever I ask for in prayer, I will receive (Mark 11:24). I'm asking for a new car, so I claim it in Jesus' name."

• “God, you say in 3 John 1:2 says you wish for me to prosper in all things and be in health. Therefore, I command this illness to leave my body right now."

• "Lord, you promise in Malachi 3:10 to open the windows of heaven if I tithe. I've given my 10%, so now you're obligated to bless me financially."

• "Jesus, you said in John 14:14 that you will do whatever we ask in your name. I'm asking you to make my crush fall in love with me."

• "God, you say in Psalm 37:4 that you'll give me the desires of my heart if I delight in you. I've been faithful, and I really want a new house."

These approaches, while perhaps well-intentioned at times, are more akin to magical manipulation than true prayer. Not only do each of these twist God's Word into things that those passages don't mean, they treat God's name – and by extension, God Himself, as a tool to be used rather than a Person to be loved, worshipped, and obeyed. When we cherry-pick verses like Jeremiah 29:11 or Matthew 18:19 out of their original context, we're not engaging with the full message of the Bible. For instance:

• Jeremiah 29:11 was a specific promise to the Israelites in exile, not a blanket guarantee of individual prosperity.

• Matthew 18:19 is about unity in the church, not a spiritual formula for getting what we want.

• Mark 11:24, often cited to name and claim whatever we ask for, is actually about trusting God's wisdom in prayer, emphasizing faith and forgiveness rather than manipulating God for personal wishes.

• 3 John 1:2, sometimes used to demand health and prosperity, is in fact a personal greeting reflecting John's care for Gaius' overall well-being, including his spiritual growth, not a universal promise.

• Malachi 3:10, while discussing blessings for tithing, addresses Israel specifically under their covenant with God, encouraging faithfulness in giving and prioritizing God's will over personal gain, not establishing a transactional relationship with God.

• John 14:14, promising that Jesus will do what we ask in His name, is about aligning our requests with His will and character, continuing Christ's work, not fulfilling any personal desire.

• Psalm 37:4, stating that God will give us the desires of our heart, is about valuing God above His gifts and finding joy in Him, with the understanding that as we delight in Him, our desires naturally align with His will.

In each case, these verses are taken out of their textual, historical, or theological context, often ignoring the broader teachings of scripture about God's nature, our relationship with Him, and the purpose of prayer. This misuse reduces the Bible to simplistic formulas and loses sight of the deeper truths they convey about faith, trust, and our relationship with God.

So how should we pray then? Well, how did Jesus teach us to pray? "Your kingdom come, Your will be done." That's the opposite of magical manipulation. It's surrendering our will to God's, recognizing His authority, and aligning ourselves with His purposes. It's almost as if He knew this would be a struggle for us (go figure). And this doesn't mean we can't bring our desires and needs to God. In fact, the Bible repeatedly encourages us to pray earnestly, specifically, and with faith. Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7-8). James instructs us to pray in faith, without doubting (James 1:6). Paul exhorts us to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6). The Psalms are full of earnest pleas and even complaints to God.

But there's a world of difference between honestly expressing our hearts to God in faith and trying to manipulate Him through the use of His name.

Praying with faith doesn't mean we're guaranteed to get exactly what we ask for; rather, it means we trust God's wisdom and goodness regardless of the outcome.

When we attempt to 'bribe' God with promises like, "If you help me pass this test, I'll study next time," we're treating our relationship with God as transactional rather than transformational. This approach ignores the unconditional nature of God's love and the fact that He already desires what's best for us (Romans 8:28). It also reveals a lack of trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty. Instead of trying to manipulate outcomes through dealmaking or misused scripture, true prayer should be about developing a deeper relationship with God. It's about seeking His will, growing in faith, and trusting His character even when circumstances don't align with our immediate desires. As we see in James 4:3, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives." By seeking the Lord, reading His Word, and approaching prayer as a means of aligning our hearts with God's rather than attempting to mold God's will with ours, we can develop a more mature and genuine faith. This approach honors God as the sovereign, loving Father He is, rather than reducing Him to a cosmic vending machine or a force to be manipulated.

Remember, we are called to pray boldly and specifically, bringing our requests before God with faith. But we do so with an attitude of submission to His will, trusting that He knows best. Our earnest prayers should be expressions of our thankfulness for what God has done, is doing, and will do for us, our dependence on Him, our trust in His character, and our desire to see His purposes fulfilled – even when that might look different from what we initially envisioned.

God's Name as an Invitation to Relationship

But here's where it gets really beautiful. God's name isn't just about His authority; it's an invitation to relationship. This concept is central to understanding the heart of biblical faith. Think about it. God didn't have to tell us His name. He could have remained the nameless, unknowable deity, like the “unknown god” that Paul encountered in Athens (Acts 17:23). But He chose to reveal His name to us. Why?

Because He wants us to know Him.

When God introduced Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14 as "I AM WHO I AM," He was inviting Moses – and all of Israel – into a personal relationship with Him. He was saying, "I'm not just some impersonal force. I'm a personal God who wants you to know me." A theme that runs throughout all of the Bible. God tells us “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1), saying that “they shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest” (Jeremiah 31:34). This is mind-blowing when you think about it. The Creator of the universe, the eternal, all-powerful God, wants us to know Him personally. He's given us His name so that we can call on Him, so that we can enter into communion with Him.

It's like when you meet someone new, and they say, "Please, call me John." They're inviting you into a more personal relationship. They're removing a barrier of formality. God has done infinitely more than that. He's given us His personal name. He's invited us to call Him "Father." Through Jesus Christ, He's brought us into His family. The implications of this are just, beyond words. In the ancient world, to know someone’s name was to have a level of power or intimacy with them. By giving us His name, God is granting us access to Him. He’s allowing us to talk to Him directly.

The apostle John captures this beautifully in 1 John 3:1:

This is the paradox of the Third Commandment. On one hand, it commands us to treat God's name with the utmost reverence. On the other hand, it reminds us that God has given us His name so that we can know Him intimately. It's like a delicate balance between reverence and intimacy. A balance we see played out in the Old Testament when God is often referred to as “the Holy One of Israel” – a title that emphasizes His supremacy, His majesty. Yet He’s also described as a shepherd who carries His lambs close to His heart (Isaiah 40:11). In the New Testament, Jesus teaches us to pray "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9) – combining familial intimacy with deep reverence. So what do we do with this? We approach God with awe and wonder, recognizing His holiness and majesty. But we also approach Him as beloved children, with the confidence that He loves us and wants us to know Him.

This should radically change how we think about prayer and worship. We're not just going through religious motions. We're not just reciting formulas. We're entering into the presence of the living God who not only who knows us, but wants to be known by us. In Christ, this invitation to relationship reaches its pinnacle. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the ultimate revelation of God's name and nature. He is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). Through Him, we can know God in a way that was never before possible.

Never lose sight of the incredible privilege we have. The God who spoke the universe into existence, who is high and lifted up, has invited us to know Him personally. He's given us His name.

Speaking About God Reflects Our Relationship with Him

Now, let's bring this closer to home. How we speak about God reveals a lot about our relationship with Him.

Think about how you speak about the people closest to you – your spouse, your children, your best friend. The way you talk about them reflects your relationship with them. If someone consistently speaks poorly of their spouse, it reveals something about the state of their marriage. If someone always speaks with love and respect about their parents, it tells you something about their family relationships, doesn’t it?

Proverbs 15:2 tells us, "The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly." Our words are not just sounds; they're windows into our hearts and minds. The same is true with God. How we speak about Him – both in public and in private – reflects our relationship with Him. And I’m talking about more than just avoiding blasphemy or crude language, I’m talking about the overall tone and content of our speech when it comes to God.

C.S. Lewis, in his autobiographical work "Surprised by Joy," describes his journey from atheism to theism and finally to Christianity. He writes about how his perception and way of speaking about God transformed:

"In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England."

Lewis goes on to describe how, initially, he approached God as "the Absolute" or "the Unconditional" - abstract, philosophical concepts. But as his faith grew, his language changed:

"My idea of God is not a divine idea. It has to be shattered time after time. He shatters it Himself. He is the great iconoclast. Could we not almost say that this shattering is one of the marks of His presence?"

Lewis's language about God became more personal and relational. In "Mere Christianity," he famously wrote:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic...or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse."

This progression shows how C.S. Lewis moved from speaking of God in abstract, philosophical terms to describing a personal, transformative relationship with Jesus Christ. His language became more direct, more passionate, and more intimate as his faith deepened.

This is why the Third Commandment is about so much more than just avoiding certain words or phrases. It's about cultivating a relationship with God that is so real, so vital, that it naturally overflows into how we speak. When we truly know God – when we've experienced His love, His grace, His holiness – it changes how we talk about Him. We can't help but speak of Him with reverence and awe. We naturally want to honor His name because we honor Him.

Do our words reflect a vibrant, personal relationship with the living God? Or do they suggest that God is distant, impersonal, or irrelevant to our daily lives? Remember what Jesus said: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). What does your speech reveal about the abundance of your heart when it comes to God?

Avoiding Misuse in Everyday Life

Now, let's get practical. How do we avoid misusing God's name in our everyday lives?

First, let's address the obvious. Using God's name as a casual exclamation or as part of a curse is clearly a violation of this commandment. Phrases like "Oh my God" or "Jesus Christ" used as expressions of surprise or frustration trivialize the name of God. They turn the sacred into the mundane.

But it goes deeper than that. Remember, this commandment is about how we carry God's name, how we represent Him to the world.

• We misuse God's name when we claim to speak for Him but misrepresent His character or His will. This can happen in subtle ways. Maybe we say, "God told me to do this" when really it's just our own desire. Or perhaps we confidently declare God's will in a situation where Scripture isn't clear.

• We misuse God's name when we use it to manipulate others. "God wants you to do this" can be a powerful statement, but it's a dangerous one if we're not absolutely certain it's true.

• We misuse God's name when we claim to be His followers but live in a way that contradicts His character. Remember, as Christians, we bear the name of Christ. We are His representatives in the world. When we act in ways that are contrary to His teachings, we are, in a very real sense, taking His name in vain.

So how do we avoid these pitfalls? Here are a few practical suggestions:

1. Be mindful of your speech. Pay attention to how you use God's name in everyday conversation. If you find yourself using it carelessly, make a conscious effort to change that habit.

2. Be careful about claiming to speak for God. Unless you're directly quoting Scripture, it's often better to say, "I believe" or "It seems to me" rather than "God says."

3. Live in a way that honors God's name. Remember that you bear Christ's name as a Christian. Let your actions reflect well on that name.

4. Cultivate a deeper relationship with God. The more you know Him, the more naturally you'll honor His name in your speech and your life.

5. When you pray or worship, do so thoughtfully. Don't just recite words; mean them. Let your use of God's name in prayer and worship be intentional and reverent.

The Positive Aspect: Hallowing God's Name

Now, I want us to shift gears a bit. We've talked a lot about what not to do, but there's a positive aspect to this commandment as well. It's not just about avoiding misuse of God's name; it's about actively honoring it. Jesus taught us to pray, "Hallowed be Your name" (Matthew 6:9). To hallow something means to make it holy, to treat it as sacred. So how do we actively hallow God's name in our lives?

1. We hallow God's name when we praise Him. When we declare His goodness, His faithfulness, His love, we are lifting up His name. This is why worship is so important. It's not just singing; it's declaring the worth of God.

2. We hallow God's name when we trust Him. When we rely on His promises, when we step out in faith, we are saying to the world, "This God is trustworthy. His name is reliable."

3. We hallow God's name when we obey Him. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Our obedience shows that we value God's authority, that we respect His name.

4. We hallow God's name when we represent Him accurately to others. When we show love, grace, and truth to the world around us, we are honoring the name of Christ that we bear.

5. We hallow God's name when we stand for truth and righteousness. When we speak up against injustice, when we defend the vulnerable, we are aligning ourselves with God's character and thus honoring His name.

Think about the example of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. They hallowed God's name by refusing to bow to idols, by maintaining their integrity in a pagan culture. Their lives were a testament to the power and faithfulness of their God. Or consider the early Christians, who were known as people who cared for the poor, who loved their enemies, who lived lives of remarkable purity. They hallowed God's name by living in a way that made others ask, "What makes these people different?"

This is our calling too. We are to be people whose lives cause others to glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). This is what it means to hallow God's name.

The New Testament Perspective

Now, let's look at how the New Testament develops this theme. Jesus and the apostles didn't abolish the Third Commandment; rather, they deepened our understanding of it, revealing its heart and broadening its application. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, addressed the issue of oaths. He said, "Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King" (Matthew 5:34-35). This teaching directly relates to the Third Commandment.

In the cultural context of Jesus' time, people often used elaborate oaths to add weight to their words, sometimes invoking God's name or things associated with Him. This practice, while intended to ensure truthfulness, often led to a casual attitude towards God's name and a system of loopholes for deception. Jesus is getting at the heart of the Third Commandment here. He's saying, "Don't try to add weight to your words by invoking God's name or things associated with Him. Instead, let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no." In other words, live with such integrity that your word alone is enough. This teaching elevates the spirit of the commandment, calling for a life of such truthfulness and reliability that oaths become unnecessary.

The apostle Paul gives us another perspective on this commandment. In Romans 2:24, he quotes from Isaiah, saying to the Jews, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." This powerful statement reminds us of the responsibility we bear as God's people. Paul is pointing out that our actions, as those who bear God's name, have consequences beyond ourselves. When we fail to live up to our calling, we bring dishonor to God's name. This is a sobering thought, isn't it? Our actions can either hallow God's name or profane it. It's reminiscent of God's words to Israel in Ezekiel 36:20-23, where He speaks of vindicating the holiness of His great name, which had been profaned among the nations because of Israel's behavior.

But here's the beautiful thing: in Christ, we have the power to truly honor God's name. Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that God has exalted Jesus and given Him "the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This passage reveals the ultimate exaltation of God's name in Christ. The name of Jesus, which means "Yahweh saves," embodies all that the Third Commandment points towards. It's the name through which we're saved (Acts 4:12), the name that's above every name, the name that will one day be universally acknowledged.

As followers of Jesus, we bear His exalted name. We are called Christians – little Christs. This is both an incredible privilege and a weighty responsibility. Every day, in every interaction, we have the opportunity to honor the name of Christ, to make it attractive to those around us. As Peter writes, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

The Heart of the Matter

I want us to remember that at its core, the Third Commandment is about the heart. It's about our fundamental orientation toward God. This commandment, like all of God's laws, is ultimately about relationship. Do we see God as a distant rule-giver, whose name we must avoid misusing out of fear of punishment? Or do we see Him as our loving Father, whose name we cherish and honor because we love Him? Our view of God profoundly affects how we approach His name.

Do we treat God's name as a talisman to be used when we're in trouble, or as the precious name of the One who knows us intimately and loves us completely? This speaks to whether we have a transactional or relational view of God. Do we see bearing God's name as a burden, or as a joyous privilege? This reveals much about our understanding of our identity in Christ.

The great reformer Martin Luther captured this beautifully in his explanation of the Third Commandment in his Small Catechism. He wrote:

Luther understood that this commandment isn't just about avoiding certain behaviors. It's about cultivating a relationship with God characterized by both reverent fear and deep love. Notice how Luther balances the negative (what we should not do) with the positive (how we should use God's name). This understanding echoes the words of the Psalmist: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 111:10). This 'fear' isn't terror, but a deep reverence and awe. It's a recognition of God's holiness and our dependence on Him. At the same time, we're invited to approach God as "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15), with the intimate trust of a child.

The Promise and the Warning

Let's look at the second part now of the Third Commandment: "for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." This statement carries both a warning and a promise, and it points us directly to Christ's fulfillment of this commandment.

First, it's a sobering warning. God takes the honor of His name seriously. He's not indifferent to how we use it or represent it. There are consequences to treating God's name lightly or falsely. This reflects the holiness and justice of God. As the prophet Ezekiel declared, "And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds" (Ezekiel 20:44). But let's not miss the grace in this warning. The fact that God warns us shows His desire for us to honor His name rightly. He's not a capricious deity waiting to strike us down, but a loving Father guiding us towards right relationship with Him.

Secondly, this statement is also a promise. It's a promise that God will vindicate His name. Even when it seems like God's name is being dishonored in the world, God will not allow this to stand forever. He will show Himself to be who He truly is. As Isaiah prophesied, "For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely" (Isaiah 48:9).

We see this promise fulfilled supremely in Jesus Christ. On the cross, it seemed like God's name was being utterly dishonored. The Son of God was being mocked, brutalized, executed. But through that very act, God was vindicating His name, showing the depths of His love, His justice, and His power to save. Jesus perfectly hallowed the name of God in His life and ministry. He said, "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world" (John 17:6). Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus constantly pointed to the Father, seeking to bring glory to His name. He taught us to pray, "Hallowed be your name" (Matthew 6:9).

In Christ, we see the ultimate expression of God's name – Immanuel, God with us. In Jesus, God's name became flesh and dwelt among us. He showed us what it looks like when God's name is perfectly honored in a human life. As John wrote, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). And now, through Christ, we have the privilege of bearing God's name as His children. We are invited into the eternal relationship of love that exists between the Father and the Son. We are given the Holy Spirit, who cries out "Abba, Father" within us (Romans 8:15). This intimate relationship with God, made possible through Christ, it transforms how we approach the Third Commandment. Because Jesus not only showed us what it means to hallow God's name, but through His life, death, and resurrection, He made it possible for us to do the same. By His Spirit, we are being transformed into His image, from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).

This is the amazing grace of the gospel. We who have dishonored God's name are not only forgiven but are invited to bear His name, to be called His children. If that doesn’t give you chills, I don’t know what will.

And this transformation as believers isn't just for our personal benefit. It points to a future hope. One day, as we read in Philippians 2, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. God's name will be fully hallowed, fully honored. The apostle John was given a vision of this future reality: "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" (Revelation 7:9-10).

So, as we go about our days, don’t just let this be a one time learning, but remember that in Christ, honoring God's name is not just a duty, but a delight. It's the natural response of those who have experienced the love of God in Christ. So my prayer for us is that in all things we glorify the name of our Heavenly Father. And may we look forward to the day when every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.