Devotional #99

Question 99. What is required in the third commandment?

Answer: That we, not only by cursing (a) or perjury (b), but also by rash swearing (c), must not profane or abuse the name of God; nor by silence or connivance be partakers of these horrible sins in others (d); and, briefly, that we use the holy name of God no otherwise than with fear and reverence (e); so that he may be rightly confessed (f) and worshipped by us (g), and be glorified in all our words and works (h).

(a) Leviticus 24:11-16: And the Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. And they put him in custody, till the will of the LORD should be clear to them. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

(b) Leviticus 19:12: You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

(c) Matthew 5:37: Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
James 5:12: But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

(d) Leviticus 5:1: “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
Proverbs 29:24: The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

(e) Jeremiah 4:2: And if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”
Isaiah 45:23: By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

(f) Romans 10:9-10: Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Matthew 10:32: So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.

(g) Psalm 50:15: And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
1 Timothy 2:8: I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.

(h) Romans 2:24: For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
1 Timothy 6:1: Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.
Colossians 3:16-17: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

For your personal reflection:
Often we are told in the New Testament that in the last days course and blasphemous language would become prevalent.  We read that it is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.  What do your words reveal about your heart?  How does this commandment offer you instruction?