Pentecost Week 10 - The Third Commandment

Christ Church Elders
1 day ago
4 min read

Scripture Reading

*Explain the context: “This week, we will continue to read about God giving Israel his instructions at Mt. Sinai after God had freed them from Egypt.”

Exodus 20:7

Big Idea (For Parents)

The third commandment instructs us to carry God’s name in a way that speaks truth about him rather than lies.

Family Reflection

(Read aloud or summarize)

A common translation of the third commandment in our English bibles is that we shall not “take” the name of the LORD (“Yahweh”) in vain. “Take” here is the same word in the original language for “carry,” and “carry” is a more helpful translation as seen in the context of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt and God’s other instructions to Israel through Moses.

When God saved Israel from Egypt, he put his own family name on them. Moses was to tell Pharaoh that Israel was God’s son (Exodus 4:23). In the Exodus, God revealed the significance of his name “Yahweh” as the one who was faithful to fulfill his promises of gracious salvation and blessing (Exodus 6:1-9). All the Israelites therefore now carried God’s name, Yahweh, upon them in a special way. The priestly tribe of the Levites enacted this as representatives for Israel by carrying the Tabernacle, where God’s name dwelt (Exodus 25:8; cf. 1 Kings 5:5), around on their shoulders. The High Priest also did so in a special way by carrying God’s name written on his forehead on a golden plate attached to his turban. As those carrying Yahweh’s special family name, the Israelites were supposed to properly show each other and the nations what kind of God Yahweh was. In this third commandment, God instructed them not to misrepresent him by “vainly” or “emptily” carrying his name. If they did, rather than being held guiltless as those God had freely forgiven, he would make them “carry” their sinful violation of the third commandment into judgment.

What were some truths about Yahweh that Israel was supposed to tell by carrying his name rightly? One focus of this commandment was Israel’s calling as a priests to the nations. Just as God graciously saved and blessed Israel, so they were to be his special name-carrying people through whom he would save and bless the nations. By the time of Jesus, many Israelites had turned their special name-carrying status into a reason to isolate themselves and feel superior rather than as a missionary calling to transform the people and world around them. They carried God’s name vainly, powerlessly, as if God had abandoned those outside his covenant people rather than appointing Israel to be his agents of change. They carried their sin into the judgment on Israel which culminated with the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in AD 70.

Today, all those baptized into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are likewise responsible to carry God’s name rightly. We must show in our words and works that our God has chosen us not so we can isolate ourselves, rest easy and simply look down on outsiders, but rather so we can be his missionary agents of change.

Discussion Questions

(Choose 1-2. Adjust for age.)

1- Family names connect us to family histories, the stories that constitute “us” as “us.” What are some of your favorite family stories? What do they reveal about your family culture or identity?

2- As with Israel, all who are baptized into God’s triune name today are his name-carriers and are responsible to tell others the truth about him. What is one way you are often tempted to tell a lie about God as his name-carrier? What is one way you have seen someone else in your family tell the truth about God as his name-carrier?

3- As with Israel, our status as God’s name-carriers is connected to the Church’s mission to transform the world. What is one way you or your family could engage those outside the church this week in a way that reveals truth about God to them?

Practice—Carrying the Name

Choose one day this week in which to act out your name-carrying status in a very concrete way. For example, for family members for whom it is appropriate, write the name “Jesus” on the back of your hand in (washable) marker so every time you look at it during the day you are reminded that you must carry the name rightly. For littles who don’t yet read, you could draw a cross or other symbol instead. Another option, for at least part of the day, is to make little paper “golden plates” with “Jesus” or another divine name/title/symbol written on them to wear on the child’s forehead like the high priest. For adults who work outside the home, you could write “Jesus” on a piece of paper and tape it to the back of your phone or something else you’ll see constantly throughout the day as your reminder that you’re carrying the name.

The point of the exercise is to be reminded throughout the day (and to remind each other in sincere, non-arrogant ways) that as Christians we are carrying God’s name and therefore must constantly seek to tell the truth about him rather than lies.