Deuteronomy 5:11 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. I. THE NATURE OF THE SIN FORBIDDEN. 1. The abuse and violation of oaths. The command is clearly violated when we — (1) Swear to the truth of what we either know to be false, or to the falsehood of what we know to be true, or to the truth or falsehood of what we do not know to be either true or false. (2) When we swear to do what we know we cannot do, what we do not intend to do, or what we intend to do, but not in the sense in which we are aware our oath of engagement is understood by those who require it, and for whose assurance it is given. 2. Profanity of speech. 3. Hypocrisy in worship. And this hypocrisy may be either deliberate or thoughtless. All careless, heartless, irreverent worship of God, involves a taking of His name in vain. Is not the Lord's name profaned and taken in vain by every man who calls himself by it and belies his profession by his character — professing that he knows God, while in works he denies Him? 4. Irreverence of heart. The man who can laugh at another taking God's name in vain, virtually takes that name in vain himself. II. THE GUILT AND DANGER OF THE PROHIBITED SIN. "The Lord will not hold him guiltless," etc. (R. Wardlaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. |
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