78 – Second Commandment
SECOND COMMANDMENT
§ 78. The Law condemns all those who take the name of God in vain,1 especially by blaspheming,2 cursing,3 false or irreverent swearing,4 witchcraft,5 false doctrine,6 religious hypocrisy,7 or open denial of the true faith,8 or by refusing or neglecting to sanctify God’s name by prayer,9 praise,10 thanksgiving,11 and the confession of the true faith.12
1. The Law condemns all those who take the name of God in vain,
Exodus 20:7 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.
Cf. Deuteronomy 5:11.
2. especially by blaspheming,
Leviticus 19:12 And ye shall not swear by My name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 24:16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
Psalm 74:10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme Thy name for ever?
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked.
3. cursing,
James 3:9, 10 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you bless, and curse not.
4. false or irreverent swearing,
Psalm 24:3–4 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
Leviticus 19:12 And ye shall not swear by My name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord.
Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord.
Matthew 5:33–37 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
5. witchcraft,
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or any observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.
Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
6. false doctrine,
Jeremiah 23:31–32 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.
Ezekiel 13:19 And will ye pollute Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to My people that hear your lies?
Psalm 50:16, 17 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, or that thou shouldest take My covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest My words behind thee.
Revelation 22:18, 19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
7. religious hypocrisy,
Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
8. or open denial of the true faith,
Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
9. or by refusing or neglecting to sanctify God’s name by prayer,
Psalm 50:15 And call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.
I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
10. praise,
Colossians 3:16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalm and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Psalm 103:1–2 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.
11. thanksgiving,
Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High.
Psalm 106:1 Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.
12. and the confession of the true faith.
I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.