When it comes to the Bible, there is often more going on than what first meets the eye. This is certainly true with the third commandment: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…” (Exodus 20:7, ESV)

Another much-neglected dimension of this commandment is what we could call ‘hypocritical use.’ In other words, when someone does or says things in God’s name which are inconsistent with the things God says and does, we are being hypocritical. This too is taking God’s name “in vain.” 

For example, there was a televangelist who kept talking about God and prosperity. He said: “He wants to bless your life with the house and car of your dreams.” 

Yikes. 

He went on to say that if you put one of their prayer cloths in your house it would bring you prosperity. You could have one for free… with a donation of $1000!*

Since this person was attributing ideas to God which were not from God, he was taking God’s name in vain.

Here’s another example. Let’s say someone comes to me and says: “I’ve cheated on my spouse. What does God think about that?” If I reply by saying, “God loves you and wants you to be happy, therefore it’s okay,” I’m taking God’s name in vain. Is God loving? Yes. But that doesn’t mean he condones sin.

Let’s use Scripture as our safeguard and filter. God doesn’t say or do things that are inconsistent with his word. As Christ’s ambassadors on earth (2 Corinthians 5:20), let’s share the good news and show his grace and truth in ways which are consistent with who he has revealed himself to be.

This way, instead of using God’s name haphazardly, we’ll be using it faithfully and accurately.

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Notes:

#dailydevotional #devotional #faith #nameofGod #bible #10commandments

-*John Dickson, A Doubter’s Guide to the Ten Commandments (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016), 82.
-The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on May 26, 2025.