The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q53. Which is the Third Commandment?

A. The Third Commandment is, 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.[1]

Proofs

[1] Exodus 20:7.

Comments

This commandment teaches us how to treat the Name of God. But the word, “Name,” must not be understood only in its most obvious and basic meaning, though it is included. Rather, the Name of God would include God Himself (cf. Lev 24:16) and everything by which God is known, such as His names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word and works. Thus Solomon speaks about building a house unto the Name of the LORD (1 Kgs 5:3, 5). Likewise the psalmist proclaimed: “According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness” (Ps 48:10). Then, in the Lord’s Prayer, we say: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.” Clearly, in all these instances, “Name” refers to more than the nomenclatures pertaining to God.

To take the Name of God in vain is to use the Name of God frivolously, hypocritically, irreverently or superstitiously. We break this commandment, therefore, when we worship the living and true God (first commandment), in the right manner (second commandment), but with the wrong spirit. In other words, we break this commandment when we are merely going through the motion in our worship or when our thoughts wander while we are in worship. We break this commandment also when we think about God, speak about God, write about God or serve God, in a manner that diminishes His glory or portrays Him falsely. Indeed, since we bear the name of Christ, we break the commandment if our lives are not becoming of saints. Paul, speaking of those who dishonour God by breaking the law, warns them: “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you” (Rom 2:24).