As mentioned in a previous post, I was sent to studying the New Testament by a dear brother years back to understand the believers relationship to the Ten Commandments.
This post will continue with
Commandment #3 – No Dishonoring God’s Name
Exodus 20:7
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Is each commandment included in Jesus or the Apostles teaching?- If so, was there anything different about the command as expressed by Jesus or the Apostles?
The NO DISHONORING GOD’S NAME command is included in Jesus and the apostles teaching, but again, primarily from the positive perspective, from the love angle, not the rule angle.
There is a difference.
Matthew 6:9
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Jesus exalts the name of the Father, speaking of His holiness, and that is, that His name is holy. Jesus is making a declaration in this prayer. I can’t see a command. Jesus loves the Father, intimately knows the Father and the holiness the Father inhabits.
It is interesting that Jesus says to “pray like this”.. Back in verse 7, Jesus is reiterating the relationship aspect of prayer. Don’t heap up empty phrases…
That is awesome, you know, the phraseology. How often I have prayed a prayer and walked away feeling like I have done my duty. Said a lot of words, completing a duty I feel I have, and then walked away, feeling kinda proud of myself, for “my many words.”
I remember as a young believer, being out late at night, on a lonely street, walking and talking to Him. For some reason, I decided to forget about all my requests, and just remind Him of His great qualities, His magnificent character, His unbounding love. You know, I don’t remember how many words, or the time I spent. I was simply realizing who I was praying to.
And I was content in prayer.
Philippians 2:9 – 10
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth
Always ask why the “therefore” is there for. Some action is taken and then the consequence of that action is described.
These verses give the consequence, that is that the name of Jesus be honored and worshiped. But to have His name honored, surely the verses before describe a harsh command given, a strict law supplied, or a very serious threatening voiced.
No command. No – He was crucified for our sins, and God the Father raised Him from the dead. That singular action was performed in order that His name be honored.
James 2:7
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
There are some who dishonor the honorable name by which we were called. The rich. Notice that the rich James is referring to are the rich that are attending meeting. What? And James is ticked off about the distinctions the church elders are making, favoring the rich.
The church elders have it all upside down.
Why are they favoring the rich who do not favor God’s name, and yet do not honor the poor man, who has been called by the honorable name of God?
A good take away from this post for today is to open your eyes to see those who are poor in the family of God and honor them. Ignore the rich – they got their money…
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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
***By the way, how many of you recognized the symbol for therefore?
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