Whereas the second commandment deals with a potential visualtemptation to depart from Yahweh, the third deals with a potential verbaltemptation. Two of the Ten Commandments affect the use of the tongue and speech: the third (speech about God) and the ninth (speech about people).
God designed this commandment to encourage people to express their respect for Himself with appropriate speech. It forbids abusing God's name or reputation. The name represents the person (cf. Exod. 3:13-14). The positive form of this command is, "Hallowed be thy name"(Matt. 6:9). Misuse of God's name expresses disrespect for Him.
"The meaning clearly is that one must not view the name as a counterpart of Yahweh and then proceed to take it in hand (or in mouth) as a means of accomplishing some kind of ill-advised or unworthy objective. This was typical of ancient Near Eastern sorcery or incantation where the names of the gods were invoked as part of the act of conjuration or of prophylaxis.79
There are several ways in which people can abuse God's name. One is by swearing falsely (Lev. 19:12). This involves lying but appealing to God's name as support that one is telling the truth (i.e., perjury; cf. 2 Sam. 15:7-10). God allowed swearing in His name under Mosaic Law (6:13; et al.), but Jesus Christ ended it (Matt. 5:33-37; cf. James 5:12). The principle in view is that all of our talk should be honest and not hypocritical. Our lives talk as well as our lips. Therefore in a wider sense this commandment should affect how God's people behave as well as how they speak (cf. 1 Tim. 6:1).
The consequence of breaking this commandment was God's punishment. In Israel the leaders of the nation carried this out by stoning the blasphemer. A blasphemer is one who practices profane or mocking speech, writing, or action concerning God or anything regarded as sacred. The blasphemer expresses contempt for God. In the church the leaders do not have the responsibility of punishing. God Himself will do so.
The Jews took this command seriously. They did not even speak God's name "Yahweh"to avoid abusing it. Instead they substituted the phrase "the Name"for "Yahweh"in conversation. They also spoke of "heaven,"the place where God resides, rather than "God."80According to Jewish tradition when a Jewish scribe wrote the name of God he would first bathe, change his clothes, and use a new quill with which to continue writing.
We should take this command seriously too. In our day many people use God's names (God, Lord, Jesus, Christ, etc.) lightly largely because they do not respect Him. Our speech and our behavior should reflect the fact that we honor and respect God. How we speak and behave reflects on God's reputation (name). Moreover respect for the person of God is something God's people should advocate in their world (Matt. 6:9).
