God's name means all by which He is known to us;
hence not only the words God, Lord, Jehovah, Jesus Christ, the Almighty,
the Eternal, the Omniscient One, etc., but the Word of God and the
Sacraments, and all holy things.
This Commandment _forbids_ the wrong use, and _commands_ the right use
of God's holy name.
I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN.
TAKING GOD'S NAME IN VAIN:
1. _Thoughtlessly_. God's name is taken in vain thoughtlessly by using
it as an exclamation in our conversation, by reading or hearing God's
Word without devotion, jesting about sacred things, quoting Scripture in
fun, and the like. Thoughtlessness is no excuse. We must give an account
to God for every idle word; [Matt. 12:36+] how much more for every vain
use of His name.
2. _Intentionally._ This is done by those who
CURSE; [Jas. 3:9, 10, Matt. 5:44, Rom. 12:14+] that is, by those who
call on God to do evil to themselves or to others. Disguised forms of
cursing are sinful also.
SWEAR. We are forbidden to confirm what we say by the use of God's name,
either
_Needlessly_ [Matt.
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