Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 53 - 56
Of the third Commandment.
Quest. 53. 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.]
Quest. 54. What is required in the third Commandment?
A. The third Commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of Gods Names, Titles, Attributes, Ordinances, Word and Works.
Quest. 55. What is forbidden in the third Commandment?
A. The third Commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing, whereby God maketh himself known.
Quest. 56. What is the Reason annexed to the third Commandment?
A. The Reason annexed to the third Commandment is, that however the breakers of this Commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his Righteous Iudgment.
Q. 1. How doth this Commandment differ from the first and second?
A. The first hath respect to the object of Worship, forbidding us to worship any other but God. The second respects the means of Worship, forbidding us to worship God by any other means than what he hath prescribed. But the third respects the manner of his Worship, …orbidding all careless or profane use of his Name, and commanding an holy reverence from us in all our solemn addresses to him, or ordinary mention of his Name. Ma…. 1.6. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: If I then be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O Priests, that despise my name: And ye say, wherein have we despised thy name?
Q. 2. What is the first thing especially required in the third Commandment?
A. It requires the most aweful and reverential frame of our hearts in all our approaches to God; Psal. 89.7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints; and to he had in reverence of all them that are about him. And in his Worship, Ioh. 4.24. God is a spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Q. 3. What's the second thing required in this Commandment?
A, It requires truth in our witness-bearing, as knowing God seeth our hearts, and is witness to all that we think or speak; Zech. 5.4. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth …alsly by my name, &c.
Q. 4. What's the third thing required in this Commandment?
A. That in all our Appeals to God in secret or doubtful matters, we be sure that the Appeal be necessary, aweful and true: Ier 17.16. As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastour to follow thee, neither have I desired the woful day, thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee. Psal. 139.23, 24 Search me▪ O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And set if there be any wicked way in me; and lead me in the way everlasting.
Q. 5. What doth this Commandment especially forbid?
A. It forbids and condemns all profane Oaths as most injurious to the Name of God. Matth. 5.34, 37. —Swear not at all, neither by heaven for it is Go…s throne, &c. but let your communication be yea, yea, nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of evil.
Q. 6. VVhat is the danger of profane or false Swearing▪
A. Such are reckoned Enemies to God, Psal. 139.20. —Thine enemies take thy name in vain. The Curse of God enters into such Families, Zech. 5.4. I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the ho…se of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsly by my name, &c. And the Lord will not hold them guiltless.
Q. 7. VVhat else is forbidden in this Commandment?
A. It forbids and condemns all heedless wandering, and drowsie performance of Gods Worship: Isa. 29.13, 14. VVherefore the Lord said, forasmuch as this people drew near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, b…t have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work amongst this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. And 2 Kings 10.31. But Iehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel, with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Ieroboam, which made Israel to sin.
Q. 8. What other sin is forbidden in this Command?
A. It forbids all light and irreverent use of the Scriptures, especially in our jests, or by way of scoffing. Ier. 17.15. Behold, they say unto me, where is the word of the Lord? let it come nowe, Jer. 6.10. —Behold the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach: they have no delight in it.
Q. 9. By what Argument doth God enforce the third Commandment on men?
A. That the breakers of this Command shall surely be punished by the Lord, either in this life, Deut. 28.58, 59. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law, that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, The Lord thy God: Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sickness, and of long continuance: Or in that to come, Rom. 2.5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thy self wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God: Except they repent and reform.
Q. 10. What's the first Instruction from the third Commandment?
A. That great and infinite is the Patience of God in forbearing provoking Sinners so long as he doth; Romans 9.22. VVhat if God willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?
Q. 11. VVhat's the second Instruction from hence?
A. That God is to be justified in the severest of his Judgments, by which at any time he manifests his displeasure against the profaneness of the World. Hos. 4.1, 2, 3. Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversie with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and bloud toucheth bloud. Therefore shall the land …ourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, yea the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
Q. 12. What's the third Instruction from hence?
A. That God takes special notice of, and greatly delighteth in them that fear and reverence his Name; Isa. 66.5. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my names sake, said, let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appea… to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Mal. 3.16. —And a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
Q. 13. What's the last Inference from hence?
A. That those Parents have much to answer for, that by their Examples teach, or by their Negligence encourage their Children to profane Gods Name. Ier. 5 7. How shall I pardon thee for this? Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no Gods, &c.