Podcasts about Third Commandment

In this sermon from Exodus 20, Matt Sikes examines the Third Commandment: "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." This commandment reaches far beyond simply avoiding careless uses of God's name. Because God's name is inseparably connected to who He is, believers are called to honor, reverence, and rightly represent Him in every area of life. The sermon explores the many ways Christians can profane God's name—in our thoughts, our prayers and praises, our words about God, our worship, and our outward actions. Taking God's name in vain includes empty or faithless prayer, careless speech, misusing Scripture, speaking falsely in God's name, hypocritical worship, and professing to know God while denying Him by our lives. The Third Commandment also positively requires believers to hallow God's name. Christians should speak of Him with reverence, worship Him sincerely, honor His Word, proclaim His truth, praise His works, and live lives of holiness that match their profession of faith. Ultimately, this commandment drives us to Jesus Christ. Every believer falls far short of perfectly honoring God's name, but Christ never once profaned the Father's name. He perfectly fulfilled this commandment, bore the penalty for His people's sin, and came to make the Father's name known. Through union with Christ, God places His name upon His people and enables them by His Spirit to live for His glory.

What does it really mean to take the Lord's name in vain? Exodus 20:7is about far more than misusing God's name in our speech—it is aboutwhat happens when people who bear God's name fail to represent himaccurately. Throughout Scripture, God's people fall into two ditches:becoming indistinguishable from the world or becoming different onlyto begin to think they are better than everyone else. But Jesus showsus another way. He perfectly bears the name of God, moving towardsinners with both compassion and a call to repentance. And at thecross, he takes the judgment we deserve so that forgiven sinners canbear his name with humility and love while still courageously callingpeople to repent and believe the Gospel. This message asks achallenging question: When people encounter us, what picture of Jesusdo they see?

The third commandment requires us to reflect on the proper use of God's name in all ways, from the church house and beyond. Today, we focus on the practical application of giving the Lord the reverence that He is due; in every area of our lives.PBHB GIVEAWAY: https://www.stayreformed.com/giveawayAdditional References:Buy A Puritan Catechism: ⁠https://a.co/d/esRURdt⁠Read A Puritan Catechism: ⁠https://www.chapellibrary.org/pdf/books/cwpr.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOop_iUZJzFz_3HbHFqJUqPMbSUhhfZUx9FY_-KuyKA9_kwqb8Kh6The Second London Baptist Confession (1689): https://founders.org/library-book/1689-confession/https://www.chapellibrary.org/pdf/books/lbcw.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOorAi1b6iCPqv94DjBcMhSSpcDOGwJrb9hXJSlgqxrFSgo9ofc0-Social Media:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StayReformedTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/stayreformedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayreformed/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stayreformedpodcast/Website: https://www.stayreformed.com/Email: contact@stayreformed.com

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The Lord's name is to be revered and treated with honor in the highest measure. Sadly, in our day, God's name has been reduced to curse word and treated with contempt by many in our society. Considering the 3rd commandment, reminds us that daily, we should speak his name with the greatest care; showing respect and guarding our lips of irreverence.PBHB GIVEAWAY: https://www.stayreformed.com/giveawayAdditional References:Buy A Puritan Catechism: ⁠https://a.co/d/esRURdt⁠Read A Puritan Catechism: ⁠https://www.chapellibrary.org/pdf/books/cwpr.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOop_iUZJzFz_3HbHFqJUqPMbSUhhfZUx9FY_-KuyKA9_kwqb8Kh6The Second London Baptist Confession (1689): https://founders.org/library-book/1689-confession/https://www.chapellibrary.org/pdf/books/lbcw.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOorAi1b6iCPqv94DjBcMhSSpcDOGwJrb9hXJSlgqxrFSgo9ofc0-Social Media:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StayReformedTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/stayreformedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayreformed/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stayreformedpodcast/Website: https://www.stayreformed.com/Email: contact@stayreformed.com

As we continue our Ten Commandments series, we are focusing on how each and every Commandment given by God to Israel after their being freed from slavery has direct and profound meaning for us as Christians. While we live in a VERY different world, the principles of each of those Commandments are powerfully important for us to follow in our walk as disciples of Jesus. The Third Commandment tells us to not take God's name in vain. For the most part, we look at that and we might think, I don't use God's name in any inappropriate way, so I'm fine! Well, the reality is taking God's name in vain is far deeper, far more subtle and far more destructive than the words we use. We need to pay close attention! Beyond OMG! The Third Commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain,” reaches far deeper than avoiding careless speech. In this episode, we explore how “taking God's name” is about carrying His name, bearing it as a representative of His character. The commandment warns against taking God’s name in vain — living in a way that makes God's name appear empty, false, or inconsistent with the life of a disciple. It is not merely about words; it is about the integrity of our walk. Connecting Commandments The discussion begins by connecting the Third Commandment to the first two. When we allow doubt, divided loyalty or idolatry to take root, hypocrisy naturally follows. We may outwardly claim God's name while inwardly relying on our own desires, worldly influences or the persuasive voices of others. We discuss how this progression leads to a “forged signature,” a life that bears God's name but does not reflect His holiness. Jonah's story becomes a vivid example. As a prophet, he carried God's name, yet his refusal to obey revealed an idol of self‑will. Only in distress did Jonah recognize the emptiness of his own vanity and return to faithfulness. The Apostle Paul's transformation provides another powerful illustration. His impressive credentials once masked spiritual emptiness, but in Christ he learned to count all things as loss so he could bear God's name with sincerity. Practically speaking, how do we avoid becoming a “shell” of a Christian? By guarding our priorities, resisting worldly influences and rejecting leaders who twist Scripture for personal gain. Ultimately, Jesus' words in the Lord's Prayer, “Hallowed be Thy name,” show the positive side of the Third Commandment. To carry God's name is to treat it as sacred, letting it shape our character, our choices and our daily walk. Key Takeaways We are supposed to represent God with integrity at all times, not merely avoiding careless speech. Hypocrisy begins when doubt, idolatry or worldly influences distort our loyalty. Jonah and Paul illustrate how personal desires can forge a false spiritual identity. The antidote is returning to the first two commandments: no other gods, no idols. “Hallowed be Thy name” is the positive fulfillment of the Third Commandment—living in a way that honors God's holiness.

The Third Commandment reads, "Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy." Does it mean that we simply relax and do nothing? Or is it a day of service? And does it have to be on a Sunday...or a Saturday? Join us as we continue our summer sermon series, "Written in Stone", as Pastor Mark preaches on the Third Commandment.

Not all cursing is sin, and not all oaths are forbidden. Lesson 35 continues the study of the third commandment and moves into cursing and swearing.Teacher Dave Rich distinguishes between sinful cursing, calling for someone's harm out of personal anger or vindictiveness, and the legitimate cursing found in Scripture, including the imprecatory psalms, Paul's warnings against false teachers, and church discipline. Rich shows that a curse becomes sin when it serves personal vengeance rather than God's glory, and that treating words like damn and hell lightly undermines the seriousness of what they actually mean.Rich then turns to swearing and oath taking, working through Matthew 5 and James 5 to argue that Jesus and James were not forbidding all oaths but the dishonest, manipulative oath taking common among the Pharisees. He traces examples of legitimate oaths from God's own promise to Abraham, Christ's testimony before the high priest, and Paul's letters, then walks through categories of prohibited swearing, including dishonest oaths, oaths to sin, and foolish oaths like Jephthah's vow.The lesson closes with practical guidance on the vows Christians do take, including wedding vows, baptism, communion, and oaths of office, and the call to take our own words seriously before God. ★ Support this podcast ★

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.

The third commandment does not just forbid a four letter word substitute. It forbids treating the name of God as empty, meaningless, or vain.In this lesson, teacher Dave Rich moves the Christian Ethics and Old Testament series into the third commandment, You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain. Rich walks through the Hebrew words behind the command, nasa, meaning to lift up or carry, and shav, meaning an empty or false thing, to show that the prohibition reaches far beyond careless speech alone.Rich explains why God shifts to the third person in this commandment and what that shift reveals about the weight of his name. Since a name in Scripture represents a person's very being and reputation, to misuse the name of God is to lie about who he is. Rich argues the commandment ultimately prohibits all sin, since every person bears God's image, then narrows the focus to specific violations, including irreverent exclamations, careless profanity, and the substitutes and euphemisms Christians often reach for instead.This lesson calls listeners to examine their own speech and to consider what it truly means to hallow God's name rather than treat it as something ordinary. ★ Support this podcast ★

Pastor Bryan D. Laws

Main Point: Every believer carries two citizenships, and how you order them reveals whose image you truly bear. On July 5th, 2026, Pastor Brian Crawford preached from Luke 20:20-26, where a group of religious elites sent flattering spies to trap Jesus with a question about paying Roman taxes. The passage fell one day after Independence Day, and Pastor Brian Crawford noted that God had a way of aligning texts to moments without any planning required. The sermon walked through four movements in the passage: the setup, the question, the answer, and the response of the crowd. Flattery is a spiritual trap, not just a social one. The spies approached Jesus with excessive praise, calling him a teacher who speaks truthfully and shows no partiality. Pastor Brian Crawford used this to warn that some of the most dangerous threats to our purpose in God arrive not as opposition but as affirmation, ease, and flattery. Because we naturally love to hear "yes," we lower our discernment when someone scratches that itch, making us vulnerable to being led away from God's will by those who only appear to be on our side. The question about the tributum capitis was a trap with no safe human exit. The Roman poll tax was deeply painful to Jewish people. Paying it felt like endorsing Caesar's worship. Refusing it could brand someone a revolutionary. Pastor Brian Crawford showed that the question was designed to force Jesus into one of two politically explosive positions. This mirrors the civic traps believers still face today, where passion-driven issues are used to force people to one political side or the other, demanding absolute loyalty where none should be given. Rendering to Caesar means actively blessing the systems God placed you in. Jesus asked to see the coin, noted whose image it bore, and answered simply: give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Pastor Brian Crawford showed that Paul in Romans 13, Peter in 1 Peter 2, and Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29 all echo this same call. Believers are to pay taxes, honor authorities, pray for leaders, and seek the welfare of their city because God has placed them there. Even the exiles in Babylon were told to build houses, plant gardens, and pray for the city's welfare because in its flourishing they would find their own. You bear God's image, and that image belongs entirely to him. The Greek word for "image" on Caesar's coin is the same word used in Genesis 1:27. Pastor Brian Crawford drew this parallel to show that just as the coin belongs to Caesar because it bears his image, every believer belongs completely to God because they bear his image. Caesar can have the coin, the tax, and the honor owed to him. But he cannot have your worship, your heart, or your allegiance. Misplaced political worship silently replaces God's image with Caesar's. Drawing on C.S. Lewis's "Meditations on the Third Commandment," Pastor Brian Crawford warned that Christians who align themselves completely to any political philosophy will not change that philosophy. It will change them. Every political system ultimately wants the worship and collective allegiance of God's people. The calling of the believer is to render honor, respect, and civic responsibility to governing authorities while ensuring that fear, love, and ultimate allegiance remain with God alone, so that the world sees clearly whose image they bear.

Main Point: Every believer carries two citizenships, and how you order them reveals whose image you truly bear. On July 5th, 2026, Pastor Brian Crawford preached from Luke 20:20-26, where a group of religious elites sent flattering spies to trap Jesus with a question about paying Roman taxes. The passage fell one day after Independence Day, and Pastor Brian Crawford noted that God had a way of aligning texts to moments without any planning required. The sermon walked through four movements in the passage: the setup, the question, the answer, and the response of the crowd. Flattery is a spiritual trap, not just a social one. The spies approached Jesus with excessive praise, calling him a teacher who speaks truthfully and shows no partiality. Pastor Brian Crawford used this to warn that some of the most dangerous threats to our purpose in God arrive not as opposition but as affirmation, ease, and flattery. Because we naturally love to hear "yes," we lower our discernment when someone scratches that itch, making us vulnerable to being led away from God's will by those who only appear to be on our side. The question about the tributum capitis was a trap with no safe human exit. The Roman poll tax was deeply painful to Jewish people. Paying it felt like endorsing Caesar's worship. Refusing it could brand someone a revolutionary. Pastor Brian Crawford showed that the question was designed to force Jesus into one of two politically explosive positions. This mirrors the civic traps believers still face today, where passion-driven issues are used to force people to one political side or the other, demanding absolute loyalty where none should be given. Rendering to Caesar means actively blessing the systems God placed you in. Jesus asked to see the coin, noted whose image it bore, and answered simply: give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Pastor Brian Crawford showed that Paul in Romans 13, Peter in 1 Peter 2, and Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29 all echo this same call. Believers are to pay taxes, honor authorities, pray for leaders, and seek the welfare of their city because God has placed them there. Even the exiles in Babylon were told to build houses, plant gardens, and pray for the city's welfare because in its flourishing they would find their own. You bear God's image, and that image belongs entirely to him. The Greek word for "image" on Caesar's coin is the same word used in Genesis 1:27. Pastor Brian Crawford drew this parallel to show that just as the coin belongs to Caesar because it bears his image, every believer belongs completely to God because they bear his image. Caesar can have the coin, the tax, and the honor owed to him. But he cannot have your worship, your heart, or your allegiance. Misplaced political worship silently replaces God's image with Caesar's. Drawing on C.S. Lewis's "Meditations on the Third Commandment," Pastor Brian Crawford warned that Christians who align themselves completely to any political philosophy will not change that philosophy. It will change them. Every political system ultimately wants the worship and collective allegiance of God's people. The calling of the believer is to render honor, respect, and civic responsibility to governing authorities while ensuring that fear, love, and ultimate allegiance remain with God alone, so that the world sees clearly whose image they bear.

Los Diez Mandamientos: El Tercer Mandamiento | The Ten Commandments: The Third Commandment | Pastor Ruben Perez Perez

What does it mean to "take the Lord's name in vain?"

Reverend Steve Johnson - Scripture: Deuteronomy 5: 11

Pastor Greg continues our sermon series through Proverbs 6:16-19 and teaches on bearing false witness towards others and toward God and why we should walk and live in truth.

Pastor Greg continues our sermon series through Proverbs 6:16-19 and teaches on bearing false witness towards others and toward God and why we should walk and live in truth.

Question: What is the reason annexed to the Third Commandment? Answer: The reason annexed to the Third Commandment is, That however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape His righteous judgement. Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1267/westminster If this podcast has been a blessing to you, try these other podcasts from Ligonier: Renewing Your Mind: https://renewingyourmind.org/ 5 Minutes in Church History: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ Ask Ligonier: https://ask.ligonier.org/podcast Open Book: https://openbookpodcast.com/ Simply Put: https://simplyputpodcast.com/

Question: What is forbidden in the Third Commandment? Answer: The Third Commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing [of] anything whereby God maketh Himself known. Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1267/westminster If this podcast has been a blessing to you, try these other podcasts from Ligonier: Renewing Your Mind: https://renewingyourmind.org/ 5 Minutes in Church History: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ Ask Ligonier: https://ask.ligonier.org/podcast Open Book: https://openbookpodcast.com/ Simply Put: https://simplyputpodcast.com/

Exodus 20:7 - “The Third Commandment” Pastor JD De Klerk Download Old Testament ReadingMalachi 1:6-14 (p. 801)

Question: What is required in the Third Commandment? Answer: The Third Commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works. Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1267/westminster If this podcast has been a blessing to you, try these other podcasts from Ligonier: Renewing Your Mind: https://renewingyourmind.org/ 5 Minutes in Church History: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ Ask Ligonier: https://ask.ligonier.org/podcast Open Book: https://openbookpodcast.com/ Simply Put: https://simplyputpodcast.com/

Question: Which is the Third Commandment? Answer: The Third Commandment is, "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1267/westminster If this podcast has been a blessing to you, try these other podcasts from Ligonier: Renewing Your Mind: https://renewingyourmind.org/ 5 Minutes in Church History: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ Ask Ligonier: https://ask.ligonier.org/podcast Open Book: https://openbookpodcast.com/ Simply Put: https://simplyputpodcast.com/

The temperature is rising, the grass is growing green, and the ice is melting - summer is coming. With the summer months, though, church attendance often drops as busy North Dakotans try to squeeze as much activiiteis into the summer months before they have to hibernate again next fall. With this said, does church still matter over the summer or does summer vacation apply to the church as well? Join us in this episode titled, "Faithful Through the Summer; Why the Third Commandment Still Matters When the Lake Calls." Subscribe, Watch, & Share: www.3p1s.com

Live Sunday 10:30am

Live Sunday 10:30am

In this Lutheran sermon based on Luke 24:13–35, “Did Not Our Hearts Burn?”, we explore the powerful account of the Road to Emmaus and how the risen Jesus Christ is revealed through the Scriptures. From a confessional Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) perspective, this sermon clearly proclaims Law and Gospel—exposing our slowness of heart to believe (Luke 24:25, ESV) and proclaiming the Good News of Christ crucified and risen for the forgiveness of sins.Discover how Jesus opens Moses and the Prophets to show that all Scripture points to His suffering and resurrection (Luke 24:27, ESV). Learn how faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17, ESV) and how hearts are set ablaze through the living and active Word of God. This sermon emphasizes the importance of the Third Commandment and the means of grace, where Christ continues to speak and strengthen His Church today.Perfect for Bible study, Lutheran theology, sermon preparation, and deepening your understanding of Scripture.Support this ministry: https://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphBuy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphHashtags:#LutheranSermon #LCMS #RoadToEmmaus #LawAndGospel #ChristianFaith

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Doug Scott examines Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's March 25 Pentagon prayer—asking God for “every round” to find its mark—and argues it reveals a dangerous politicized liturgy that sanctifies annihilation, misuses Christ's name, and feeds a planetary thought-form he calls the Great BASH. Scott traces the theological, psychological, and institutional stakes, contrasts this moment with Francis of Assisi's encounter with the Sultan, and urges readers to recognize and resist the conflation of sacred language with redemptive violence. -- Endnotes 1. Online Etymology Dictionary, “diabolic,” accessed March 2026, https://www.etymonline.com/word/diabolic. See also Merriam-Webster, “diabolical,” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diabolical. The Greek diabolos derives from dia- (“across, through”) + ballein (“to throw”), literally “to throw across/apart.” Its opposite is symbolon, from sym- (“together”) + ballein, literally “to throw together.” The Septuagint translators chose diabolos to render the Hebrew satan (“adversary”). 2. Doug Scott, “How the Egregore Great BASH Shows Itself at the Threshold of Human Shift,” cosmicchrist.net, March 10, 2026; Doug Scott, “The Terran Self at War with Itself,” cosmicchrist.net, March 2026. 3. Ra Material (The Law of One), Session 15.12; Session 32.14. The orange-ray energy center governs personal identity, self-assertion, and the relationship to other-selves as individuals. Blockage or distortion at this level manifests as the inability to stabilize identity without defining against an external other. 4. Associated Press, “At Pentagon Christian Service, Hegseth Prays for Violence ‘Against Those Who Deserve No Mercy,'” March 25, 2026. Reported via PBS NewsHour, Washington Post, Military.com, Washington Times, and dozens of AP affiliates. The service was livestreamed. 5. Associated Press, via Military.com, March 26, 2026. As of that reporting, Operation Epic Fury had resulted in thirteen American service members killed and more than two hundred wounded. 6. Full prayer text reported by Brett Wilkins, “‘Heretical and Batshit Crazy': Hegseth Rebuked for Bloodthirsty Prayer Asking God to Bless Iran War,” Common Dreams, March 26, 2026, citing video posted by journalist Michael Tracey on X, March 25, 2026. Also confirmed by the Daily Beast, March 26, 2026. 7. Associated Press, via PBS NewsHour, March 25, 2026. Hegseth belongs to the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), co-founded by self-described Christian nationalist Doug Wilson. Wilson preached at Hegseth's Pentagon services in February 2026. Hegseth also attends weekly White House Bible study led by Ralph Drollinger. See Doug Scott, “Hegseth, Vance, and Johnson: Religious Framing, War Justification, and the Iran Campaign,” Great BASH Project Research Brief, March 5, 2026. 8. Associated Press, via PBS and Military.com, March 25–26, 2026. Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed suit Monday, March 23, seeking internal communications about the services, their cost, and any complaints. 9. Associated Press, via PBS NewsHour, March 25, 2026. Hegseth directed chaplains to prioritize spiritual ministry over mental health and “self-help” approaches, in a week when the military had grown increasingly dependent on chaplains to address troop mental health distress during active combat. 10. “Pentagon Pete Hegseth Prays for ‘Overwhelming Violence' at Christian Service,” The Daily Beast, March 26, 2026. Trump told reporters at Tuesday's Oval Office swearing-in of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin: “Pete didn't want it to be settled.” Trump identified Hegseth as the first cabinet member to push for military action against Iran. 11. Ronit Stahl, author of Enlisting Faith: How the Military Chaplaincy Shaped Religion and State in Modern America (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2017), quoted in Associated Press/PBS coverage, March 25, 2026. 12. Associated Press, via Washington Times, March 25, 2026. At a gathering of Christian broadcasters in February, Hegseth said of the Pentagon services: “We hear a lot from the ‘freedom from religion' crowd. They hate it. The left-wing shrieks, which means we're right over the target.” 13. Ra Material (The Law of One), Session 46.9–10; Session 48.7. Green ray (the heart center) is the first energy center capable of holding the other without needing to annihilate, possess, or control. It is the gateway to higher-density work and the prerequisite for the density transition Earth is currently undergoing. 14. “Pentagon Pete Hegseth Prays for ‘Overwhelming Violence' at Christian Service,” The Daily Beast, March 26, 2026. Hegseth's pastor Brooks Potteiger appeared on the Christian nationalist podcast Reformation Red Pill, where co-host Joshua Haymes said of Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico: “I pray that God kills him.” Potteiger responded: “Right. Right. We want him crucified with Christ.” 15. For the Francis/Sultan encounter as counter-image to the crusader theology, see Doug Scott, “The Terran Self at War with Itself,” cosmicchrist.net, March 2026. The historical encounter occurred in 1219 during the Fifth Crusade at Damietta, Egypt. 16. Exodus 20:7. The Hebrew nasa means “to lift, carry, bear” rather than simply “to speak.” The word shav (translated “in vain”) means emptiness, vanity, falsehood, worthlessness of conduct. Rabbi Joseph Telushkin argued that the more literal translation—“you shall not carry” the name of YHWH—explains why the commandment ranks alongside “You shall not murder.” See Joseph Telushkin, A Code of Jewish Ethics, vol. 1 (New York: Bell Tower, 2006). See also “The Innocence of God: The Third Commandment,” Tikkun 31, no. 2 (April 2016). 17. David Klinghoffer, Shattered Tablets: Why We Ignore the Ten Commandments at Our Peril (New York: Doubleday, 2007), cited in “Watch Your Language: The Third Commandment,” The Dayton Jewish Observer, May 2010. 18. Carmen Joy Imes, in conversation with Kirk E. Miller, “What Does It Mean to Take God's Name in Vain?,” Logos, March 2025. Imes connects the priestly bearing of God's name on Aaron's garments (Exodus 28:12, 29) to Israel's commissioning as a nation of priests (Exodus 19:5–6), arguing that “carrying God's name” means representing God's character faithfully through one's actions. 19. “The Innocence of God: The Third Commandment: Building the Religious Counterculture,” Tikkun 31, no. 2 (April 2016). The article notes that the second half of the Third Commandment—“for God will not acquit a person who takes God's name in vain”—uses language found in no other commandment, including the prohibitions against murder and adultery.

A Case Against Blasphemy Free speech cannot be absolute where it portends absolute destruction. Before formulating arguments about why blasphemy laws never work, before outlining the decisive points in favor of unfettered free speech, before launching into lectures about censorship and cancelations, separation of church and state, rights and freedoms and liberties, hypocrisy and hysteria, gather those excellent points, pack them tight, then set them aside. Before even reaching the decision of best, most practical enforceability, truth and necessity must first be asserted. A strong case has been made that the Founding Fathers of the United States never considered blasphemy laws in writing the First Amendment protections of free speech, because it wouldn't have entered their minds to do so. No matter how religious someone was at home, religion held strong enough sway over the culture that the government needn't interfere where society would regulate behavior on its own. The blatant disregard for the Divine rampant in society today was unimagine then, not least because reverent regard for the Divine is vital to upholding the world they made. So, while it may not have been constitutionally illegal to blaspheme, no one who wanted to remain in good standing and company would consider such a derisive act in public. And sometimes that's all it takes to ensure the desired outcome, as historical precedent has reliably shown. Eventually, blasphemy laws were passed and enforced on a governmental level, and there's plenty of places that may still officially have them on the books. We've moved so far as a society that we no longer pay attention to those that remain, so they linger unenforced. We've more pressing issues to deal with these days, or so we're told. Yet, what if our more pressing issues can be traced in large part to our laxity in regard to blasphemy? And, if not the language itself, then to the same cause at the root of both acceptance of blasphemy and the rest of the societal ills at present. For one thing is certain, neither government nor standing nor company is enough anymore to entirely enforce word choice in most circles. The only circumstance where such efficiency is ever seen is in regard to social constructs around the imagined oppressed of the day. This perversion is an accurate reflection of what results when public displays of religious irreverence are no longer considered blasphemous, let alone tolerated, ignored, celebrated. The result of this is that unassailable protection of natural rights is intentionally subverted and directed toward malicious ends. Free speech absolutists are quick to counter with the case of satirist George Carlin, who was arrested in Wisconsin in the seventies for a routine that was ultimately deemed “indecent.” For many, his case is absolute proof against blasphemy laws, made all the easier if they actually agree with what he said, let alone laugh at it. The laughter part is important, for comedy and satire have proven time and again to be among the greatest weapons the populace can wield against the government. Only a free people can mock their ruling class without fear of repercussion, and the persecution of comedians, or any well-liked entertainer, isn't usually well-accepted in a liberty-minded society. Except, blasphemy isn't aimed at the current government, but at G-d, Who exists beyond any mortal systems. Moreover, blasphemy isn't the same as comedy, as even the religious and the wider umbrella of believers have jokes that include G-d. The difference is the same as jokes from family members and from outsiders, namely the affection underlying the tone of the former. For non-believers or so-proclaimed atheists, jokes about G-d are usually a euphemism for mockery, belied by the sour notes of jadedness, bitterness, disdain, even anger they can't entirely hide beneath the laughter. Such comedy does not stem from a desire to share amusement but an excuse to belittle what they don't truly know or understand or simply find agreement in their contempt. Thus it falls under the blasphemous, not least because the result is not to free speech but to lessen the image of G-d in the eyes of the beholder. Blasphemous displays are not “fresh” or “edgy” or “freeing” or “empowering” or “complex” or any other manner of progressive mangled label breathlessly used to validate the degenerate. As the law against blasphemy has existed thousands of years, so has the cause for it. To say, the law wasn't made as a preemptive forewarning of a possible future, rather, the law was established for past, present, and future, because some things about the human condition don't change, but are merely repackaged over time. The law against blasphemy first appears in its most definitive form as the third of the Ten Commandments given by G-d to Moses on Mount Sinai. Anyone who believes in the advantages of displaying the Ten Commandments and the necessity of teaching their precepts to all ages should immediately realize that the Third Commandment is not to be overlooked or modified when confronted with manmade free speech protections. The argument against codifying the Third Commandment into secular law, beyond those of absolute free speech and separation of law from religious influence, is the inevitable conclusion that no other person is harmed in the act of blasphemy. It's just speech after all, and my right to say it doesn't negate your right to not listen. Or so we're told. Except, does blasphemy really harm no one when it chisels away at the very foundation of our exalted system of governance? As the point has been made before, rights cannot be separated from their Source, which, as stated by the very same Founders who sought to protect free speech, come from capital C Creator. Thus, a right isn't a right unless the Creator with a capital C wills it to be. The same Creator who gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, the third of which clearly prohibits blasphemy as “taking the L-rd's name in vain.” This includes cursing, disrespecting, and all other manner of language or act intended to demean or discredit Him. Among the numerous, natural rights given to man, Creator with a capital C did not grant a right to blaspheme Him. Quite the opposite. Is G-d so fragile that a few choice words could hurt Him? Does it take one scribble of the pen to fell His Mighty name? No, this is for us. Blasphemy isn't simply about words or actions, but what they represent and intend, in addition to the conditions which allow them to prosper. As clearly outlined in our founding documents, freedoms and liberties are natural to man, but only because the Creator made it so. In other words, as has been said by many of our founders, belief in that gift from the Creator is necessary to protect all that gift entails from the predations of government and malicious or negligent actors. Chipping away at that belief undermines the entire system these freedoms are predicated upon, so blasphemy isn't merely the case of someone saying something somewhere sometime. Rather, blasphemy, its intent and allowance, is an attempt to undo the foundations of our very freedoms by disconnecting them from their Source through belittlement and disdain. History has shown plainly that irreverence is a vital tool in toppling the currently established, for where something is no longer deemed sacred, neither is its protection. If someone can freely treat Creator with a capital C in such manner, then what compels anyone to protect and value what He has given us? What preserves its natural sanctity if it's been reduced through negligence and degradation? Blatant blasphemies aside, there are subtler ones which have settled comfortably into common usage that go largely unremarked upon. Ones so common, people would balk or jeer to hear them labeled blasphemous, but we should be attuned to weeding them out on a personal level nonetheless. For example, the depiction of angels as anything from models to literary love interests to cherubic cupids, anything other than the Divine messengers they are, borders on the blasphemous for its mundaning of the spiritual. Even though often at surface, anyone speaking of regarding someone inspirational or aspirational as an “idol” is another example of normalizing terminology that should cause any truly G-d fearing to recoil. And though many don't want to hear it, the idea that anyone could partake of this world without acknowledging the Maker and Owner is a different kind of blasphemy. As with the lie of “My body, my choice,” humanity has cemented the idea into common conscience that this world is ours simply because we were born into it. Does that logic extend to any other sort of ownership? Even the claim that conquering invokes ownership is based upon the takers taking what was already taken. Do humans get to invoke squatters' rights over Earth when we had no part in our arrival upon in? The truth is the world was given to man, but that fact only stands when recognizing it's not only a part but the middle of the sentence. Consider, Earth was given to man by whom and for what? Answering that question not only reveals the truth underlying our entire existence, but also explains why any attempt to obscure, misconstrue, or undermine it approaches the blasphemous. You may vigorously deny such a drastic view, you may expound upon scientific theories that validate your perspective that reality is otherwise, but in honest, unadorned truth, can you really claim to be the only one foolhardy enough to stubbornly remain an atheist in a foxhole? In moments of extreme relief, crisis, suffering, gratitude do you not invoke His name, even unwittingly? Do you invoke nothing? Does that really feel right? If yes, then where do your natural rights come from? Should we give credit to our fondly mislabeled Pluto? If rights are manmade, then they are not natural, for not all men agree on what those rights are or should be. How far we must go to preserve the sanctity of our reverence for the Creator is a topic for the next part of the debate, and a worthy one to reach as well, but the principle must be, along with a desire to adhere to it, that we cannot profess to value one thing while also allowing for the undermining of what gives that value any status or meaning at all. We cannot despair at those who despair of the world around them, while simultaneously promoting the cause for its ruin and calling it a right. Clear the mind of all other thoughts for a moment and consider a world where blasphemy is once again enforced, even only on a societal level. What first disappears in this scenario? Anything we need for the furtherance of our civilization or merely things done and words said just for the sake of proving they can be? Think then on what else changes when the Creator is respected as He should be. How many issues of the day, how many policies are affected where at least an outward respect for the Creator is mandated by the populace? What restraints reappear around the intrusions and excesses of government? How does political rhetoric change when blasphemy is no longer tolerated for the civilization destroying force that it truly is? How do the streets, celebrations, art, literature, music, clothing, et al, look when blasphemy is no longer permitted? Are we truly worse us off, knowing as we do now, where our leniency has led? Taking all these points to their final conclusion results in the ultimate, undeniable truth that it is absolutely, fundamentally impossible to be pro-human and also anti-G-d, let alone blasphemous or derisive of Him. Any other claim can be reasoned to a dead end. Human life is only significant because He has deemed it to be. To say, our belief in the sanctity of human life should be reflected in how we treat life's Creator. Anything that may infringe upon that, anything which may chip, chisel, or crack that sanctity is, in a word, blasphemous. Thus, blasphemy is not about mere rights and speech but the first line of attack to the foundation upholding civilization. Instead of wasting time on pushing the boundary of disregard as far as it will go, better to make a concerted effort to focus on that which will strengthen society and better life instead, starting with praise and gratitude to the Creator, Who gave us this life and the rights that allows us to live it best.

Ep. 352 | The Power Of Four: The Third Commandment (Exodus 20:7) | William Bell | Mar 22, 2026Support the show

The Law of God and the Christian Life (Lesson 3)

Pastor Zellner sits down and continues the conversation about the Ten Commandments. Today, he answers the question, what is the Third Commandment and why is this commandment so important today?

Pastor Zellner sits down and continues the conversation about the Ten Commandments. Today, he answers the question, what is the Third Commandment and why is this commandment so important today?

Question: What is the reason annexed to the Third Commandment? Answer: The reason annexed to the Third Commandment is, That however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape His righteous judgement. Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1267/westminster If this podcast has been a blessing to you, try these other podcasts from Ligonier: Renewing Your Mind: https://renewingyourmind.org/ 5 Minutes in Church History: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ Ask Ligonier: https://ask.ligonier.org/podcast Open Book: https://openbookpodcast.com/ Simply Put: https://simplyputpodcast.com/

Question: What is forbidden in the Third Commandment? Answer: The Third Commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing [of] anything whereby God maketh Himself known. Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1267/westminster If this podcast has been a blessing to you, try these other podcasts from Ligonier: Renewing Your Mind: https://renewingyourmind.org/ 5 Minutes in Church History: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ Ask Ligonier: https://ask.ligonier.org/podcast Open Book: https://openbookpodcast.com/ Simply Put: https://simplyputpodcast.com/

Question: What is required in the Third Commandment? Answer: The Third Commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works. Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1267/westminster If this podcast has been a blessing to you, try these other podcasts from Ligonier: Renewing Your Mind: https://renewingyourmind.org/ 5 Minutes in Church History: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ Ask Ligonier: https://ask.ligonier.org/podcast Open Book: https://openbookpodcast.com/ Simply Put: https://simplyputpodcast.com/

Question: Which is the Third Commandment? Answer: The Third Commandment is, "thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Study Reformed theology with a free resource bundle from Ligonier Ministries: https://grow.ligonier.org/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://gift.ligonier.org/1267/westminster If this podcast has been a blessing to you, try these other podcasts from Ligonier: Renewing Your Mind: https://renewingyourmind.org/ 5 Minutes in Church History: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/ Ask Ligonier: https://ask.ligonier.org/podcast Open Book: https://openbookpodcast.com/ Simply Put: https://simplyputpodcast.com/

Following their recent book club discussion of Joel Biermann's Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play, the Ladies welcome Dr. Biermann himself to the Lounge for a Kitchen Table Talk conversation all about Sabbath-keeping and the Third Commandment.   What does Sabbath have to do with the meaning of life? What does the Bible teach us about how we are to “remember the Sabbath”? How are work, leisure, sleep, play, and worship all woven together in the fabric of creation and the life of the believer? How does Christian theology inform how we spend our time?   The Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann is professor of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. His books include Day 7: For Work, Rest, or Play (CPH) and Wholly Citizens: God's Two Realms and Christian Engagement with the World (Fortress). Hear more from Dr. Biermann on his YouTube channel, in our previous Kitchen Table Talk episode with him, or his interviews on The Coffee Hour with Andy and Sarah.   Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.