HC 99

Q99. What is required in the third commandment?

We are not to blaspheme or to abuse the Name of God by cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths, nor to share in such horrible sins by being silent bystanders. In short, we must use the holy Name of God only with fear and reverence, so that we may rightly confess Him, call upon Him, and praise Him in all our words and works.

Proof texts

• Lev. 24:10-17 — [10] Now an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. And the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, [11] and the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. [12] And they put him in custody, till the will of the LORD should be clear to them. [13] Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [14] “Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. [15] And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. [16] Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. [17] “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.
• Lev. 19:1 — [1] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
• Matt. 5:37 — [37] Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
• Jas. 5:12 — [12] But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
• Lev. 5:1 — [1] “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
• Prov. 29:24 — [24] The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
• Ps. 99:1-5 — [1] The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! [2] The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. [3] Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! [4] The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. [5] Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
• Isa. 45:23 — [23] By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
• Jer. 4:2 — [2] and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”
• Matt. 10:32-33 — [32] So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, [33] but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
• Rom. 10:9-10 — [9] because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
• Ps. 50:14-15 — [14] Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, [15] and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
• 1 Tim. 2:8 — [8] I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
• Rom. 2:24 — [24] For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
• Col. 3:17 — [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
• 1 Tim. 6:1 — [1] Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Lev. 24:10-17 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 16 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q39 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q45 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q39 · WSC Q45 · WLC Q91 · WLC Q100 · WCF 19.1 · 1689 19.1