The Ten Commandments: Third Commandment

Exodus 20:7

The Ten Signposts of the Bible
CAMDE—400—CALY
Creation. Abraham. MOSES. David. Elijah. 400. Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to Come.

People often say things like: “God!” “Oh, my God!” “OMG!” “Good Lord!” “Christ!” “Jesus Christ!” Today, using God’s name as slang has become so common that it is seen as acceptable. However, remember, that’s what the world does—normalizes sin. 

Wait a second, you might be thinking, there are words much worse than saying ‘Oh, my God!’ or ‘Jesus Christ!’ Is using ‘OMG’ in conversations with my friends really a sin? Besides, these are just throwaway words, not a slam against God.

Today, as we continue our study of the Ten Commandments, I think we will see how best to answer that question….

Three months after God freed Israel from centuries of slavery, he graciously gave them guidelines to live by. These are summed up in the Ten Commandments. Today, let’s continue our study of the Decalogue—the “Ten Words” with commandment #3. 

First Commandment: No god but God (Ex. 20:2-3)
Second Commandment: No Images (Ex. 20:4-6)

THIRD COMMANDMENT: DON’T MISUSE GOD’S NAME (Ex. 20:7) 

Exodus 20:7
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

The ESV translates the Hebrew word saw as “vain.” The NIV translates the same word as “misuse”—“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God….” The Hebrew term means to treat as “worthless, futile, inconsequential.”

A name is more than just a string of letters; it represents that person. A name evokes who someone is, what they stand for, and what shapes their character. When I mention “Abraham Lincoln,” you think of the man and his principles, the president of the United States during the Civil War. When you hear “Bill Gates,” thoughts of ingenuity, wealth, and power come to mind. 

Using God’s name as slang shows disrespect and dismisses who he is. It treats the Sovereign Creator's name as unimportant and demonstrates irreverence for the One who loves us and gave his life for us. 

This commandment is part of Jesus’ teaching on prayer (Matt. 6:9-13). Jesus said, “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’” (Matt. 6:9). The word translated “hallowed” comes from the Greek word hagiazo. It means “sanctify” or “make holy,” indicating respect and honor. Jesus clearly emphasized that God's name, which represents his Person, should be treated with holy reverence. Expressions like “Oh, my God!” or “Jesus Christ!” used as profanity are not respectful or honorable. 

Let’s think through this practically.

Vows. Promises. Contracts.
When a person trusts in Jesus, they become a Christian. This means “a follower of Christ” or “one belonging to Christ," a term first used in Antioch according to Acts 11:26. Therefore, as a Christian, everything we say and do should be done in the name of the One we follow and belong to. We, as believers, represent God on earth. 

That means when we make a vow, we must keep it. A follower of Jesus “keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind” (Ps. 15:4 NIV). Followers of Jesus keep their promises. Our word is our bond because our promise is ultimately to God. When I don’t keep my word, I am, in effect, using God’s name in vain and treating my relationship with him lightly.

Speech
As we’ve already discussed, God’s name reflects his Person. Using any form of his name as profanity dishonors who he is. 

We also need to be mindful of how we use phrases like: “Praise the Lord!” “Thank the Lord!” “Hallelujah!” These meaningful expressions of gratitude can often be spoken in a trivial or superficial way. 

Theological Error
Read these words from the apostle Peter:

2 Peter 2:1-2
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

False teachers deny the “Master who bought them.” They belittle his Person and his name. Because of their teaching and lifestyle, “the way of truth [is] blasphemed.” The word “blaspheme” (Grk: blasphemeo) means to “revile,” “abuse,” or “slander.” Teaching error insults God’s Word, which is truth (John 17:17). This is one of the reasons why we value our discipleship curriculum, Living Grounded.[1] It is our responsibility as followers of Jesus to be equipped in understanding what we believe and why we believe it.

Here’s the bottom line. As Christians, we belong to Jesus and aim to follow him wholeheartedly. We are called to honor God through our words and actions. God’s name reflects his character; therefore, we should never use it disrespectfully or carelessly. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD 
Read and reflect on Exodus 20:7. Do you take God’s name in vain through your speech, promises, or theology? 

Talking to God: Ask God to help you become aware of any speech or actions that misuse his name. If necessary, ask someone to hold you accountable in this area.

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll respond soon. If you're interested in learning more about a relationship with Jesus or seeking spiritual guidance, let us help you take the next step.

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