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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/
What does the Third Commandment actually mean? In Week 3 of our STONE series, CJ Ward teaches through Exodus 20:7 and challenges us to rethink what it means to “take the Lord's name in vain.” This message explores how followers of Jesus carry His name through the way we live, lead, love, and represent Him in the world. If this message encouraged you, make sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. #STONE #ThirdCommandment #Exodus20 #CJWard #NewLifeGillette #ChristianSermon #TenCommandments Chapters (00:00:02) - Mother's Day Teaching(00:01:39) - The Third Commandment(00:02:56) - The Boy General(00:11:07) - You Shall Not Take the Name of the Lord Your God In V(00:18:10) - Jesus on Using His Name in Vain(00:22:55) - Wearing the Name In Vain(00:25:46) - Jesus Calling Men to Carry His Name
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
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
Today's transcript. We depend on donations from exceptional listeners like you. To donate, click here.The Daily Rosary Meditations is now an app! Click here for more info.To find out more about The Movement and enroll: https://www.schooloffaith.com/membershipPrayer requests | Subscribe by email | Download our app | Donate
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?
January 15, 2026Today's Reading: Catechism: First CommandmentDaily Lectionary: Ezekiel 37:15-28; Romans 6:1-23“You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.” (The Small Catechism, The First Commandment)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.One of my favorite exercises in Confirmation is having the confirmands noodle on the question of how many commandments you can break at one time with one sin. It is always interesting to see how they think through the process because we so often think we can reduce that number to one, but we have to sin on a Sunday to break the Third Commandment!The point of the exercise is to make it clear that the Commandments are so intertwined that it doesn't matter how many Commandments you break; breaking any single one of them is a damnable offense. And the reason you break Commandments Two through Ten is because you've already thrown the First into the trash.Why do you despise God's Word and His preaching? Because you decided you didn't want to hear from God that day. Why did you want to throat punch someone? Because you know better than God that he really deserves it! Why did you ignore Mom's request to take out the trash? Because you know better how your time should be spent, not her.All of these sins have one thing in common: you are the one who knows best, not God your Father. You decided that you know better than God how to live your life. You have made yourself God, then. It may not seem like it, but that is the truth of the matter. Any time you decide that you know better than Almighty God how to live your life, you have replaced Him as God.The blessing in all of this is that once you realize how you try to game the system, you can dial back the idolatry of self (which is what this behavior actually is) and see how you can react positively to God's Word and commands. You can take comfort in the forgiveness given you in Christ, and resting in that peace, you can fear, love, and trust in God above all things.No, you never will be able to keep the Commandments properly. But by striving in faith to love and trust in God as He desires to be loved, by following the examples of faithful Christians around you, and by gladly receiving the Gifts God freely gives, you begin to learn how you can live faithfully: with a repentant heart and trusting that His forgiveness is yours, because He loves you more than you will ever know.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.I know my faith is founded On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord; And this my faith confessing, Unmoved I stand on His sure Word. Our reason cannot fathom The truth of God profound; Who trusts in human wisdom Relies on shifting ground. God's Word is all sufficient, It makes divinely sure; And trusting in its wisdom, My faith shall rest secure. (LSB 587:1)Author: Rev. Duane Bamsch, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wichita Falls, TX.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.
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/
Evening Service | Pastor Travis Greene
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.
Today is day 289 and we are studying The Third Commandment. 289. How can you honor and love God's Name? I honor and love God's Name, in which I was baptized, by keeping my vows and promises, by worshiping him in truth and holiness, and by invoking his Name reverently and responsibly. (Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 10:20–22; Psalm 105:1–5; Matthew 15:10–20; James 5:12) We will conclude today by praying The Initial Address for the Renewal of Baptismal Vows found on page 194 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today is day 288 and we are studying The Third Commandment. 288. How might you use God's Name carelessly? Cursing, magic, broken vows, false piety, manipulation of others, and hypocrisy all cheapen God's Name. These treat God's Name as empty of the reality for which it stands. (Leviticus 5:4–6; 19:26b,31; Psalm 10:2–7; Malachi 1:6–14; Matthew 5:33–37; James 3:5–12; Articles of Religion, 39) We will conclude today by praying Proper 2 found on page 615 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today is day 287 and we are studying The Third Commandment. 287. How might you use God's Name profanely? By the unholy use of God's holy Name, especially through perjury, blasphemy, and attributing to God any falsehood, heresy, or evil deed, as if he had authorized or approved them. (Deuteronomy 18:20–22; Proverbs 30:7–9; Jeremiah 34:15–16; Ezekiel 36:16–23; Amos 2:6–7; Jude 5–13) We will conclude today by praying Proper 7 found on page 617 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today is day 286 and we are studying The Third Commandment. 286. How can you avoid taking God's Name in vain? Because I love him, I should use God's Name with reverence, not carelessly or profanely. (Deuteronomy 28:58–59; Psalms 86:11–12; 99:1–5; Revelation 15:2–4) We will conclude today with the Zayin Stanza of Psalm 119 found on page 430 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today is day 285 and we are studying The Third Commandment. 285. What does it mean to take God's Name “in vain”? “Vain” means empty, meaningless, and of no account. To take God's Name in vain is to treat it as such. (Leviticus 24:10–16; Romans 2:23–24) We will conclude today with the Waw Stanza of Psalm 119 found on page 430 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today is day 284 and we are studying The Third Commandment. 284. Why is God's Name sacred? God's Name reveals who he is—his nature, his character, his power, and his purposes. All forms of God's Name are holy. (Exodus 3:1–15; 34:5–7; Psalms 8; 54:1; 79:9; Isaiah 57:15; Luke 1:46–49) We will conclude today a Prayer for the Ministry to the Sick found on page 226 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today is day 283 and we are studying The Third Commandment. 283. What is the third commandment? The third commandment is “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11; see also Leviticus 22:32; see questions 172–77) We will conclude today by praying the Decalogue found on page 100 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introduction – When People Don't Approve of You Rainey began her message with a story from her college years — a painful and funny one about rejection. She told how she dated a grad student named Noah who was brilliant, popular, and part of an elite, intellectual friend group. When she went to dinner to meet his friends, she knew she was being evaluated — an “audition dinner.” When asked about Kant's Critique of Judgment, all she could say was, “I think Kant is really good. Art also, very good. So to sum up, I am pro.” It didn't go well. Shortly after, Noah broke up with her, saying she “wasn't smart enough” and that she'd be more comfortable with someone “her speed.” It was humiliating. She had been evaluated and found lacking. Rainey then drew the connection: this kind of rejection happens to all of us. We don't always fit in. Sometimes we're not chosen, we're overlooked, or we're compared unfavorably to others — the sibling the parents brag about, the colleague the students prefer, the church that people leave for. She said, “There's no use pretending everyone will love you. That's not true. The Gospel has to be good news even when people don't like us.” If our sense of worth depends on impressing others, we become weak, reactive, and easily crushed. To show how dangerous this is, Rainey turned to Scripture. ⸻ 1. The Danger of Insecurity (Matthew 14:1–11) She read the story of Herod and John the Baptist: “Herod was greatly distressed, but because of his oath and his dinner guests, he ordered that John be beheaded…” (Matthew 14:9) Rainey highlighted that Herod didn't kill John out of hatred. He killed him out of insecurity. He wanted to look strong in front of his guests. He cared more about their approval than what was right. She said, “If Herod hadn't been so desperate for them to think he was strong, he'd have been free to ask, ‘What is right?' Instead, he asked, ‘What do they want to see?'” That's what insecurity does. When we tie our worth to others' opinions, we become unable to do what's right. We can only do what others want to see. It's a position of terrible weakness. Then she brought it home: “If I link my worth to your approval, I can't be a person who obeys God. I can only be a person who performs for you.” That's why we need good news for the insecure heart. ⸻ 2. Imago Dei – You Are Made in the Image of God Rainey's first idea for finding freedom from insecurity is the biblical truth of the Imago Dei — that every person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). She described how all beauty and goodness in creation point to God: “The heavens declare the glory of God; day after day they pour forth speech.” – Psalm 19:1–2 Mountains, oceans, sunsets — they all reflect something of His glory. But humans are unique because we don't just reflect His glory — we resemble Him. She said, “God used His own fingers to carve the lines of your face. He held your cheeks and said, ‘Yes, that's just right.'” We are designed to show the world something of what God is like — each of us in a slightly different way. To despise yourself or wish to be someone else is to insult the Artist who made you. “The one who carved your bones is not wishing you were more like your sister.” It's beneath your dignity, Rainey said, to let your worth swing back and forth with every opinion. Your worth is not determined by the crowd — it's anchored in the Creator. Then she turned to the Third Commandment, often translated “Do not take the Lord's name in vain.” She explained that the Hebrew verb nasa means “to carry.” So the command really says: “Do not carry the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) In other words: “You carry My name. Represent Me well.” If we treat people as though they don't matter, we misrepresent the God who made them. When we devalue others, we carry His name badly — we show the world a false picture of Him. So, what are we called to show the world? Rainey told the story of Hagar in Genesis 16 — an abused, pregnant, runaway slave who meets God in the desert. God sees her, comforts her, and promises a future. In response, she names Him: “You are El Roi — the God Who Sees Me.” And Rainey said, “That's who He still is. To people no one else sees, He is the God who sees.” That's our calling as image bearers: not to impress others, but to see others as He does. The highest calling is not to be admired — it's to notice the forgotten, to look into someone's eyes and say with our presence, ‘God has not forgotten you.' When we do that — whether as a doctor, teacher, parent, or neighbor — we reveal the God who sees. That's the stable foundation of our worth: not impressing people, but bearing His image. ⸻ 3. The Gospel According to You Rainey's second major idea was that God isn't wishing you were more like anyone else — because He designed you to tell the story of His goodness in a unique way. She illustrated this through the four Gospels: • Matthew, the tax collector, wrote to show that Jesus fulfilled every prophecy — the precise, orderly Gospel for those who care about facts and fulfillment. • Mark, reflecting Peter's voice, wrote fast and action-packed — the soldier's Gospel for people who value power and results. • Luke, the doctor, wrote a polished, reasoned account — the intellectual's Gospel, highlighting compassion, reason, and human dignity. • John, the emotional “son of thunder,” wrote the love letter Gospel — passionate, personal, and poetic. Each one tells the same story of Jesus, but from a different angle. None could replace the others. Together, they give us a fuller picture of who Jesus is. Then Rainey made her point: “To celebrate Him fully, we need all four voices. And to celebrate Him even more fully, we need yours too.” She said, “The Gospel according to Coleton is that God can save anyone, even the people no one expects. The Gospel according to Rainey is that He's the reason nature is beautiful and ethics matter. And yours will sound different still — and that's exactly the point.” Each of us is meant to tell the world how Jesus has been good news to us. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.” – Psalm 107:2 God doesn't need more copies of the same person. He needs each of us to reveal a facet of His beauty that no one else can. ⸻ 4. Loaves and Fishes – You Are Enough for God to Use Finally, Rainey turned to her last idea: You are not enough — but you are enough when given to Jesus. She said, “Please don't hear me saying, ‘Believe in yourself because you are enough.' You aren't. I'm not either.” We cannot heal trauma, fix the world, or even make our loved ones wise or successful. We feel inadequate because we are inadequate. But, she said, “You are enough the way loaves and fishes were enough.” When a boy handed Jesus his meager lunch, Jesus made it feed thousands. The bread and fish weren't enough — until they were surrendered. In the same way, when we offer our homes, our talents, our dinners, our time — however small — Jesus multiplies it into something eternal. Rainey shared that she often prays before people come to her home for dinner: “Lord, take this lasagna and somehow receive glory from it.” That's how our lives work. Not because we're impressive, but because when we hand what we have to Him, He uses it to show His goodness. ⸻ 5. Closing Blessing and Prayer Rainey ended with this charge and blessing: “In an ocean of opinions, you do not have to audition for your worth. And don't make anyone else audition for theirs.” Walk in the dignity of an image bearer. Tell the Gospel according to you. And when you feel your not-enoughness, hand it to Jesus like loaves and fish — He will make it enough. She closed by praying that the Spirit would free us from comparison and insecurity, and send us out to be people who see others as God sees them. “Lord Jesus, thank You that You were unmoved by the crowd's opinion. Set our faces toward You. Free us from the tyranny of competition, and send us to the lonely, the overlooked, and the left-out — not to compete but to bless.” ⸻ Discussion Questions 1. Where are you most tempted to “audition” for approval? What does it look like to find your worth in how others see you? 2. How does the truth of being made in the Imago Dei change how you see yourself — and how you treat others? 3. Which “Gospel voice” do you most relate to — Matthew's precision, Mark's action, Luke's compassion, or John's love? What might “the gospel according to you” sound like? 4. What “loaves and fishes” could you offer to Jesus this week? (Something small you can surrender for His glory.) 5. Who around you might need to be “seen”? How could you bear God's image to them by communicating, “God sees you”?
This month on Theonomoney, Jeremy spends some time talking about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, his funeral, and the death of Voddie Baucham, and then addresses the Third Commandment again, giving some general principles about it and applying it to each sphere of sovereignty. Subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher, tell your friends about Theonomoney, and follow Theonomoney on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Check out great theonomic shirts and hoodies here: bonfire.com/store/theonomoney/ Catechism link: www.reformedreader.org/ccc/keachcat.htm
Taking the Lord's name in vain is about more than just speech. Mark Vance and Emily Jensen unpack the Third Commandment and show how it's about more than avoiding certain words—it's about living as representatives of God in the world.Together, they discuss how God's people carry his name, what it means to bear that name well, and how this commandment speaks directly into everyday life—from the words we speak to the way we act as his witnesses.Episode Highlights:00:00 — Introducing the Third Commandment04:20 — Why it's about more than just “not cussing”10:45 — Bearing God's name as His representatives17:30 — Everyday examples of carrying God's name in our lives24:50 — How this commandment shapes our witness todayResources:Cornerstone Church Sermons: Listen onlineThe Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser
Many Christians assume the third commandment, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain," is primarily about using bad language. But Pastor Heath Lambert reveals the deeper biblical meaning behind this sacred command and explains why it's about much more than cursing.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and new book announcement1:55 - The question: Is the third commandment about cursing?2:09 - What the third commandment actually says (Exodus 20:7)2:40 - Common misconceptions about breaking this commandment3:07 - The real meaning: misusing God's name vs cursing3:39 - Why the third commandment is primarily about something deeper4:13 - Biblical view on cursing and foul language (Ephesians 5:4)4:54 - Multiple ways to violate the third commandmentKey Topics Covered- The Text of the Third Commandment - Understanding what Exodus 20:7 actually teaches about God's name- Common Misunderstanding - Why many people think this commandment is only about profanity- The Real Issue: Vain Use of God's Name - How we empty God's name of its intrinsic weight and importance- Cursing and the Bible - What Scripture teaches about foul language and crude talk- Multiple Violations - The many ways people can misuse God's sacred name beyond profanity- Proper Reverence - How to honor God's name in our daily speech and worshipScripture ReferencesExodus 20:7 - The Third CommandmentEphesians 5:4 - Instructions about speech and crude talkAbout The Ten Commandments BookHeath Lambert's new book "The Ten Commandments: A Short Book for Normal People" releases September 30th. This accessible guide explains how God's commands apply to modern life without requiring theological education. Perfect for personal study, evangelism, or gifts to friends, neighbors, and family.Pre-order the book or get your free download of the first chapter at fbcjax.com/tencommandmentsHave a question you'd like answered? Send it to markedbygrace@fbcjax.com
Read Online“The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.” Luke 6:5This short yet powerful statement by Jesus was spoken in response to the Pharisees who questioned Jesus as to why His disciples were apparently doing what was unlawful on the sabbath. They were walking through a field of grain, picking grain as they walked, and eating it for nourishment on their journey from one town to another.This challenge from the Pharisees highlights their scrupulous approach to the moral law. Recall the Third Commandment given through Moses: “Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work…” (Exodus 20:8–10). From this Commandment, the Pharisees had developed a complex commentary which went into great detail about what kind of work was forbidden on the Sabbath in their view. One such regulation was to pick and mill grain. Thus, they judged that this was what the disciples were doing and were, therefore, violating the Third Commandment.The laws of God, as they are given by God, must be followed perfectly. His divine Law refreshes us, enlivens us and enables us to live in union with Him. The Pharisees, however, deeply struggled with a need to control the lives of the people through their human interpretation of the divine Law. By saying that “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath,” Jesus made it clear that this scrupulous interpretation of the Third Commandment taught by the Pharisees did not align with the truths of that divine Law.One lesson to learn from this encounter is that each one of us can easily fall into a similar trap. It's easy to replace God's true Law with our perception of faith and morality. We are weak human beings, and there are many things that affect our thinking and our convictions in life. Emotions, habits, family relationships, friendships, media and so many other things affect us in powerful ways. Sometimes for good and sometimes for ill. We can easily arrive at certain judgments of faith and morality that are slightly erroneous, being based on subtle errors. As a result, we can easily begin to get off track in our thinking and convictions and, over time, can find that we have deviated far from the truths of God. When this happens, it can be difficult to humbly admit it and change our convictions. Reflect, today, upon the humble truth that Jesus and Jesus alone is Lord of the divine Law. This means that we must perpetually remain open to changing our opinions when we hear our Lord speak to us. Ponder any way in which you have become overly attached to your own opinions. If they bring forth peace, joy, charity and the like, then they are most likely in union with God. If they are burdensome, a cause of confusion, contention or frustration, then you may need to step back and humbly reexamine the convictions you hold, so that He Who is Lord of all will be able to speak His divine Law to you more clearly. Lord of all Truth, You and You alone are the guide of my life. You and You alone are the Truth. Help me to be humble, dear Lord, so that I can recognize any error in my convictions and turn to You and Your divine Law as the one and only guide for my life. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: The story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
This month on Theonomoney, Jeremy beings looking at the Third Commandment, giving details about it, including things to which it applies that might surprise you. Subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher, tell your friends about Theonomoney, and follow Theonomoney on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Check out great theonomic shirts and hoodies here: bonfire.com/store/theonomoney/ Catechism link: www.reformedreader.org/ccc/keachcat.htm https://thewestminsterstandard.org/westminster-larger-catechism/
Anyone who has studied the Third Commandment in confirmation class has encountered Colossians 2:16–17, which answers the question, “Why don't Christians have to worship on Saturday (the Sabbath) as the Israelites did in the Old Testament?” St. Paul writes, “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance [literally, “body”] belongs to Christ.” Not only does this passage teach that under the New Testament Christians are not obligated to keep Old Testament ceremonial or political laws (although the moral Law does continue to apply to all people of all times and all places), but it also leads Christians to ask, “Why would we try to cling to mere shadows of our Savior, when He is really present in His Body, the church?” We have Jesus as our Bridegroom, so we lack nothing. Nevertheless, the New Testament does use types, examples and shadows from the Old Testament to teach us about life in Christ and in the church. We can gain insights into the New Testament Means of Grace by opening the Old Testament. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the September 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Sacramental Shadows” on Exodus 13 & 14. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.
Anyone who has studied the Third Commandment in confirmation class has encountered Colossians 2:16–17, which answers the question, “Why don't Christians have to worship on Saturday (the Sabbath) as the Israelites did in the Old Testament?” St. Paul writes, “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance [literally, “body”] belongs to Christ.” Not only does this passage teach that under the New Testament Christians are not obligated to keep Old Testament ceremonial or political laws (although the moral Law does continue to apply to all people of all times and all places), but it also leads Christians to ask, “Why would we try to cling to mere shadows of our Savior, when He is really present in His Body, the church?” We have Jesus as our Bridegroom, so we lack nothing. Nevertheless, the New Testament does use types, examples and shadows from the Old Testament to teach us about life in Christ and in the church. We can gain insights into the New Testament Means of Grace by opening the Old Testament. Rev. Carl Roth, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins Sarah to talk about the “Searching Scripture” feature in the September 2025 issue of the Lutheran Witness titled “Sacramental Shadows” on Exodus 13 & 14. This year, “Searching Scripture” is themed “Opening the Old Testament” and will walk through ways that the Old Testament witnesses to Jesus Christ and His grace, mercy and peace, delivered through the holy Christian church. Follow along every month and search Scripture with us! Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.
Rabbi Josh Feigelson explores the Third Commandment and how its warning against idolatry offers a profound lesson in mindfulness. From childhood posters to spiritual projections, we often cling to permanence in a world of constant change. Through a grounding meditation on breath, Josh helps us soften the grip on our inner idols and embrace the ever-unfolding nature of life. Be in touch at josh@unpacked.media. This episode is sponsored by Jonathan and Kori Kalafer and the Somerset Patriots: The Bridgewater, NJ-based AA Affiliate of the New York Yankees, AND BY Rebecca Halpern, in loving memory of her father, Richard, and her mother, Maddy, at the conclusion of the first thirty days of mourning since she passed away. May their memories be a blessing. --------------- This podcast was brought to you by Unpacked, a division of OpenDor Media. For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out: Jewish History Nerds Stars of David with Elon Gold Unpacking Israeli History Wondering Jews
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/
Read OnlineJesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” Matthew 12:1–2When Moses gave the Ten Commandments to the people, there was a prohibition against working on the Sabbath. The Third Commandment said, in part, that “you shall not do any work” on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10). By the time of Jesus, the Pharisees had added much commentary to this law and expanded it to include as many as 39 different forms of work that they believed was forbidden. Included in their list were the practices of harvesting and milling of grain. For that reason, when the Pharisees saw that the disciples were picking heads of grain and rubbing the grain off the husks so that they could eat it, the Pharisees condemned them for violating what they interpreted to be an offense against the Third Commandment.The first thing we can note from this passage is that the disciples were hungry. They were exceptionally devoted to Jesus and had been traveling with Him from town to town so that He could preach the Gospel. They had given up occupation, home, family and income so as to be singly devoted to Jesus and His mission. And as a result of this, they were living in poverty and relying upon the generosity of others. It is in this context that they chose to eat the most humble of foods: grain that they picked as they walked. They didn't complain that there wasn't a hot meal waiting for them at their destination. They were accepting of the many long journeys by foot that they made. They were okay with the fact that they did not get to sleep in their own bed every night. But they did have the basic human need for food, so they picked this grain as they walked to fulfill this basic need of hunger.Though there are many lessons we can learn from this passage, one clear lesson is that of the temptation to judge and condemn others. When we fall into the trap of judging others, there are a few things that are common. First, judging and condemning often is based on perceived wrongs that are inflated and exaggerated. The Pharisees clearly inflated and exaggerated this “sin” of the disciples. In our lives, judgmentalness almost always makes the perceived sin of another far more serious than it is, if it is sin at all.Another common temptation that flows from a judgmental and condemning heart is the failure to even understand the condemned party. In this case above, the Pharisees did not even inquire into the reason the disciples were picking and eating grain. They didn't ask if they had been without food for some time or how long they had been traveling. It didn't matter to them that they were hungry, and most likely, very hungry. So also with us, it is common that when we judge and condemn another, we arrive at our verdict without even seeking to understand the situation.Lastly, it needs to be said that judging others is not our right. Doing so is usually reckless and caused by our own self-centeredness. God did not give the Pharisees the authority to expand the Third Commandment into 39 forbidden practices, nor did He give them the authority to apply those interpretations to the perceived actions of the disciples. And God does not give us the authority to judge others either. If another is clearly caught in a cycle of objectively grave sin, we must do all we can to help draw them out of that sin. But even in that case, we have no right to judge or condemn. Reflect, today, upon any tendency you have toward being judgmental and condemning of others. If you see this tendency within yourself, spend time thinking about the Pharisees. Their self-righteousness was ugly and damaging. The negative example they set should inspire us to turn away from such acts of condemnation and to reject those temptations the moment they come. My divine Judge of All, You and You alone know the heart, and You and You alone are capable of acting as Judge. Please exercise Your authority in my life so that I can perceive my own sin. As You do, please also free me from the tendency to judge and condemn. Fill me, instead, with a heart full of mercy and truth toward all. Jesus, I trust in You. Image: Marten van Valckenborch, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.