“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.”

Exodus 20:7

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The Ten Commandments aren’t just rules or behavior modification—they reflect God’s holiness and how we, as His image-bearers, represent Him. Because God exists as our heavenly Father who wants good things for us, we can stand confident that these commandments are actually outlining a way of living that is for our benefit. In this week’s Sunday message in Manhattan, Pastor Luis Guerrero discusses how the third commandment isn’t just about avoiding ‘bad words,’ but bearing His name in a way that honors Him in our lives.

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What is the context?

• The first two commandments outline God’s uniqueness and exclusivity in worship 
• The third commandment begins to outline our ongoing relationship and approach to God—are we treating his name with honor, or reducing it to something casual?

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We honor the third commandment today with…

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Our Words

• A name carries meaning and brings a certain reputation and identity to mind.
• When we speak out the name of God, it carries holiness, character, power, and authority.
• In our culture it’s common to take the name of God and treat it casually instead of with reverence, But when we throw his name casually, we take something sacred and strip it of its weight. 
• We honor God’s name by taking on a posture of humility and submission to his will.

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Our Actions

• Our actions are not just a representation of who you are, but whose name you carry.
• "To misuse God’s name is not only about speech but about living falsely under His banner. Hypocrisy in the Christian life is a form of taking His name in vain." —Fleming Rutledge
• When we bear his name, we get to help demonstrate what a loving God looks like to a hurting world.
• We are called to be different—not in a way that is self-righteous, but in a way that is holy, set apart, and loving.

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Our Commitments

“Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”
—Matthew 5:37

• When our prayer life begins to look like a bargain with God and making big promises in the moment– we’re really saying I'm only approaching you because I want something in return.
• Our relationship with God is a covenant—it’s not forced upon us, but invites us into a loving relationship with him.
• Are we true to our word, or are we unreliable and not able to commit fully to the things we agree to? 

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Our Worship

• How I speak about the Lord, how we act, and our commitments is an act of worship unto him.
• Jesus models for us what it means to not take the Lord’s name in vain, but instead to bless His name and bring Him the most glory.

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Additional Resources:

• Philippians 2:10
• Matthew 7:16
• Psalm 29:2

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Dinner Party Questions:

1. How do you personally approach using God's name in your daily life? What changes might you consider to honor His name more sincerely?
2. When you make commitments to God, are they coming from a selfish desire? How could you begin to cultivate a relationship with him founded on genuine obedience?
3. In what ways do you feel you’ve misrepresented God to others, even unintentionally? How can you actively seek to reflect His character more truthfully?

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Put It Into Practice:

1. Are there areas in your life where you are committing your time to too many things, not able to be true to your word? Take some time in prayer to meditate on how you are currently spending your time, and if it honors the name of God.
2. Being cultivating a rhythm of worship within your week. Sing, pray, journal, and begin to live in a way that magnifies the holiness of God.