Third Commandment: You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (Ex. 20:7)

What is the Command?

The third commandment is, "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God." You must honor God’s name by glorifying him in everything you do and say.

God's name represents God—who he is and what he does in the world, especially his magnificent acts of creation, redemption, and restoration of all things lost in the world because of sin. Honoring God's name is a central theme in the Bible.

The Psalmist proclaims that one day all the nations of the earth will give God the worship he alone is due and glorify his name. "There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name" (Ps. 86:8–9).

Through the prophet Isaiah, God declares the reason he continued to show love to Israel when they disobeyed him was so that his name would be glorified. "For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another" (Isa. 48:11).

The apostle John tells us that the reason our sins are forgiven by God is not ultimately for our sake, but for God’s name's sake. "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake" (1 John 2:12).

The apostle Paul writes that his mission to all the nations is "for the sake of his name among all the nations" (Rom. 1:5–6).[1] Paul also tells us that God's purpose to bring honor and glory to his name in all things is now our purpose in everything we do in life: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). The Shorter Catechism answer reflects this by telling us that our primary purpose is "to glorify God and enjoy him forever."

To glorify the name of the Lord is to lift him up and exalt him in everything we say and do, by always giving him the honor and respect that he alone is due.

What is Forbidden?

This commandment forbids you to dishonor God's name by anything you say or do. Since God's name in the Bible represents God, this commandment forbids you to dishonor God by anything you say or do.

The opposite of bringing honor and glory to God's name is to bring disgrace and dishonor to God's name by what you say and do. It's defiling God's sacred name and damaging God's reputation. God shows the seriousness of this offense when he says in this commandment, "for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

God does not forbid the use of his name, only it's misuse.[2] Disobeying this commandment includes cursing and swearing with God's name. It also includes using God’s name to promote falsehood, deceit, or wrong of any kind, especially in courts of justice or when special circumstances require an oath.

However, dishonoring God's name goes far beyond cursing and taking false oaths.

The greatest way to dishonor God's name is when we fail to trust and worship him alone. Paul writes, "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.... They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator" (Rom. 1:21–25).

These people defiled God's name, "did not honor God," (the third commandment) by worshiping and serving other gods (idols) (first commandment) that were "created things" (second commandment).

As a result, Paul says, "They became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened...so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity" (Rom. 1:21–29).

What is Required?

This commandment requires you to honor God's name in all that you do and say. Jesus shows us the importance of this commandment when he teaches us how to pray. In the Lord's Prayer, the first petition echoes the third commandment. "Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name'" (Matt. 6:9).  

Jesus obeyed the third commandment not only by praying for God's name to be glorified, but also by living his whole life on the earth for God's glory. At the end of his life, Jesus prayed to the Father, "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do" (John 17:4).

Therefore, in obedience to this commandment, we must learn how to join with the Psalmists, the Prophets, the Apostles, and Jesus, by aligning both our prayers and our lives with God's purpose of bringing honor and glory to his name in all we say and do.

So, how do we obey this commandment and honor God's name? The answer is found in the Children's Catechism:

Q. 1. Who made you?
A. God.

Q. 2. What else did God make?
A. God made all things.

Q. 3. Why did God make you and all things?
A. For his own glory.

Q. 4. How can you glorify God?
A. By loving him and doing what he commands.

The answer to the question, "How can you glorify God?" is the same as the answer to the question "How can you honor God's name?" (third commandment). The answer is "By loving him and doing what he commands."

Jesus says, "If you love me you will keep my commands" (John 14:15). Therefore, the way you honor God's name is by loving him (commandments 1–4) and loving others (commandments 5–10) in obedience to his commands.

You honor God's name (third commandment) first and foremost by having no other gods before him (first commandment) and by having no false images of him when you worship him (second commandment).  Then you live a life that brings honor to God's name by your obedience to all his other commandments. These are:

• Remembering the Sabbath (fourth commandment)

• Respecting Authority (fifth commandment)

• Cherishing Life (sixth commandment)

• Upholding Purity (seventh commandment)

• Respecting Possessions (eighth commandment)

• Promoting Truth (ninth commandment—including oaths using God's name)

• Cultivating Contentment (tenth commandment)

As you learn how to obey all of God's commandments, you're learning how to fulfill his primary purpose for your life—"to glorify God and enjoy him forever."[3]

The third commandment answers the question, "Why do you worship?" It addresses the purpose of your worship and commands you to honor God by not misusing his name. The third commandment reveals the purpose of your life: to bring honor to God's name in all that you do and say.

Catechism Questions

What is the Third Commandment?

The third commandment is, "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God."

What is forbidden by God in the Third Commandment?

God forbids me to dishonor his name.

What is required by God in the Third Commandment?

God requires me to honor his name in all that I do and say.

Footnotes:

[1] When Paul visited Athens, "his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols" (Acts 17:16). Paul had a zeal for God's glory, a passion to see God honored for who he is and for all he's done in Jesus Christ. Paul was stirred with a holy jealousy for God's glory when he saw that Athens was full of false gods that were receiving honor and glory instead of the only true God.

[2] Throughout the Bible we learn that God approves of his people using his name to take solemn vows and oaths to promote truth, justice, and trustworthiness in a way that honors him and shows love for people (Num. 6:1–21; 1 Sam. 1:11; Acts 18:18).

[3] John Calvin summarizes the meaning of the third commandment: "The meaning is this: God is indeed to be feared and loved by us, that we should not for any reason misuse his most holy name. Rather, we should magnify him above all else for his holiness, give the glory to him in everything, whether favorable or adverse: we should wholeheartedly ask of him all things which come to us from his hand, and give him thanks." Institutes of the Christian Religion, 1536 edition, ed. and trans. Ford Lewis Battles (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans Publishing, 1986), 22.