Q.111. 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.[i]

[i] Exod. 20:7.

Q.112. What is required in the third commandment?

A. The third commandment requires, That the name of God, his titles, attributes,[k] ordinances,[l] the word,[m] sacraments,[n] prayer,[o] oaths,[p] vows,[q] lots,[r] his works,[s] and whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought,[t] meditation,[v] word,[w] and writing;[x] by an holy profession,[y] and answerable conversation,[z] to the glory of God,[a] and the good of ourselves,[b] and others.[c]

[k] Matt. 6:9. Deut. 28:58. Ps. 29:2. Ps. 68:4. Rev. 15:3,4.

[l] Mal. 1:14. Eccl. 5:1.

[m] Ps. 138:2.

[n] 1 Cor. 11:24,25,28,29.

[o] 1 Tim. 2:8.

[p] Jer. 4:2.

[q] Eccl. 5:2,4-6.

[r] Acts 1:24,26.

[s] Job 36:24.

[t] Mal. 3:16.

[v] Ps. 8.

[w] Col. 3:17. Ps. 105:2,5.

[x] Ps. 102:18.

[y] 1 Pet. 3:15. Micah 4:5.

[z] Phil. 1:27.

[a] 1 Cor. 10:31.

[b] Jer. 32:39.

[c] 1 Pet. 2:12.

Q.113. What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God’s name as is required;[d] and the abuse of it in an ignorant,[e] vain,[f] irreverent, profane,[g] superstitious,[h] or wicked mentioning or otherwise using his titles, attributes,[i] ordinances,[k] or works,[l] by blasphemy,[m] perjury;[n] all sinful cursings,[o] oaths,[p] vows,[q] and lots;[r] violating of our oaths and vows, if lawful;[s] and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful;[t] murmuring and quarrelling at,[v] curious prying into,[w] and misapplying of God’s decrees[x] and providences;[y] misinterpreting,[z] misapplying,[a] or any way perverting the word, or any part of it,[b] to profane jests,[c] curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false doctrines;[d] abusing it, the creatures, or any thing contained under the name of God, to charms,[e] or sinful lusts and practices;[f] the maligning,[g] scorning,[h] reviling,[i] or any wise opposing of God’s truth, grace, and ways;[k] making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends;[l] being ashamed of it,[m] or a shame to it, by unconformable,[n] unwise,[o] unfruitful,[p] and offensive walking,[q] or backsliding from it.[r]

[d] Mal. 2:2.

[e] Acts 17:23.

[f] Prov. 30:9.

[g] Mal. 1:6,7,12. Mal. 3:14.

[h] 1 Sam. 4:3-5. Jer. 7:4,9,10,14,31. Col. 2:20-22.

[i] 2 Kings 18:30,35. Exod. 5:2. Ps. 139:20.

[k] Ps. 50:16,17.

[l] Isa. 5:12.

[m] 2 Kings 19:22. Lev. 24:11.

[n] Zech. 5:4. Zech. 8:17.

[o] 1 Sam. 17:43. 2 Sam. 16:5.

[p] Jer. 5:7. Jer. 23:10.

[q] Deut. 23:18. Acts 23:12,14.

[r] Esth. 3:7. Esth. 9:24. Ps. 22:18.

[s] Ps. 24:4. Ezek 17:16,18,19.

[t] Mark 6:26. 1 Sam. 25:22,32-34.

[v] Rom. 9:14,19,20.

[w] Deut. 29:29.

[x] Rom. 3:5,7. Rom. 6:1,2.

[y] Eccl. 8:11. Eccl. 9:3. Ps. 39.

[z] Matt. 5:21-48.

[a] Ezek. 13:22.

[b] 2 Pet. 3:16. Matt. 22:24-31.

[c] Isa. 22:13. Jer. 23:34,36,38.

[d] 1 Tim. 1:4,6,7. 1 Tim. 6:4,5,20. 2 Tim. 2:14. Tit. 3:9.

[e] Deut. 18:10-14. Acts 19:13.

[f] 2 Tim. 4:3,4. Rom. 13:13,14. 1 Kings 21:9,10. Jude 4.

[g] Acts 13:45. 1 John 3:12.

[h] Ps. 1:1. 2 Pet. 3:3.

[i] 1 Pet. 4:4.

[k] Acts 13:45,46,50. Acts 4:18. Acts 19:9. 1 Thess. 2:16. Heb. 10:29.

[l] 2 Tim. 3:5. Matt. 23:14. Matt. 6:1,2,5,16.

[m] Mark 8:38.

[n] Ps. 73:14,15.

[o] 1 Cor. 6:5,6. Eph. 5:15-17.

[p] Isa. 5:4. 2 Pet. 1:8,9.

[q] Rom. 2:23,24.

[r] Gal. 3:1,3. Heb. 6:6.

Q.114. What reasons are annexed to the third commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the third commandment, in these words, [The Lord thy God,] and, [For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain,[s]] are, because he is the Lord and our God, therefore his name is not to be profaned, or any way abused by us;[t] especially because he will be so far from acquitting and sparing the transgressors of this commandment, as that he will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment,[v] albeit many such escape the censures and punishments of men.[w]

[s] Exod. 20:7.

[t] Lev. 19:12.

[v] Ezek. 36:21-23. Deut. 28:58,59. Zech 5:2-4.

[w] 1 Sam. 2:12,17,22,24. Compared with 1 Sam. 3:13.