3. Do Not Misuse God’s Name
The Worst Sin You Can Commit
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Script:
Not all sins are equal. Some are worse than others. The worst of one of all? Committing evil in the name of God. This commandment is often misunderstood because it’s mistranslated. It’s not concerned with saying God’s name “in vain” like “God, did I have a terrible day at the office.” It’s about using God’s name in the commission of evil. We see this today when Islamists invoke God’s name while they murder innocent people.
Is there such a thing as “the worst sin” — one sin that is worse than all others? Well, there is. I am well aware that some people differ. They maintain that we can’t declare any sin worse than any other. “To God, a sin is a sin,” is how it’s often expressed. In this view, a person who steals a stapler from the office is committing as grievous a sin in God’s eyes as a murderer. But most people intuitively, as well as biblically, understand that some sins are clearly worse than others. We are confident that God has at least as much common sense as we do. The God of Judaism and Christianity does not equate stealing an office item with murder.
So, then, what is the worst sin? The worst sin is committing evil in God’s name. How do we know? From the Third Commandment of the Ten Commandments. This is the only one of the Ten Commandments that states that God will not forgive a person who violates the commandment. What does this Commandment say? It is most commonly translated as, “Do not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. For the Lord will not hold guiltless” — meaning “will not forgive” — whoever takes His name in vain.”
Most people understandably think that the commandment forbids saying God’s name for no good reason. So, something like, “God, did I have a rough day at work today!” violates the Third Commandment. But that interpretation presents a real problem. It would mean that whereas God could forgive the violation of any of the other commandments — dishonoring one’s parents, stealing, adultery, or even committing murder — He would never forgive someone who said, “God, did I have a rough day at work today!” Let’s be honest: That would render God and the Ten Commandments morally incomprehensible.
Well, as it happens, the commandment is not the problem. The problem is the translation. The Hebrew original doesn’t say “Do not take;” it says “Do not carry.” The Hebrew literally reads, “Do not carry the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” One of the most widely used new translations of the Bible, the New International Version, or NIV, uses the word “misuse” rather than the word “take:” “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” This is much closer to the original’s intent.
For the complete script, visit https://www.prageru.com/videos/do-not-misuse-gods-name
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Thank you so much for this! Your explanation brings light to the overwhelming journey I go through in reading the Bible.
To be honest I think BOTH misrepresenting his name and turning it into an expletive are a form of using it in vain.
But I agree misrepresenting it is far worse.
Sorry Mr. Prager, but you’re wrong. The worst sin the unforgivable sin.
Matthew 12: 31-32
Mark 3:28–30
As much as I like this interpretation, it is very difficult to take seriously when the first thing Moses did after being given the commandments was order the slaughter of 3,000 of his own people in God's name because they made a little cow statue out of gold.
Good video. We are very aware of the radical Islamist or Inquisition crimes but I wonder if Zionists who ethnically cleansed many towns in God's name in what is today Israel back in 1948, have thought about their crimes in this way? What about the bombing of innocent children in Gaza because a politician pushed the erase Amalek narrative? I have heard people say that God is one their side while they bombing houses with families
I came here much like probably everybody else did thinking, okay how bad is this. Sure, I know I should stop swearing but I do get a relief from it and I spend enough time alone that it shouldn't be offending anybody. This definitely makes more sense.
I think you just condemned the entire Judeo Christian belief system.Whether Christians killing indigenous people for failing to convert or Jews killing Palestinians for land. This is why I say God is love,religion is slavery.
Very enlightening.
God damn this was a great video!
I know this is an older video, but I actually think "take" is a really good way to translate the idea that's meant to be conveyed. The only other context in which we normally say that someone has taken another person's name is marriage. So when you take God's name you're literally saying I'm of God and doing so in vain is exactly what you described.
Do not misuse God's name
I use the GNT version of the bible, and its words for commandment three are "Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the Lord your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name." This makes so much more sense than the saying-God's-name-in-vain misunderstanding that has been rampant for decades.
As a Jewish person live in Israel, I find this video inspiring. Thank you so much for explaining the True meaning of 10 commandments. God bless you
The third commandment is remember the sabbath and keep it holy.
Why does he say Christians and Jews worship the same God? My God is a Trinity and they reject Christ
Using God’s name as a cuss word is absolutely a sin. Would you use your mother’s name to express disgust? God’s name has to be used with great respect. We are all sinners, especially because Jesus said whoever looks at a woman to lust after her commits adultery in his heart. This is because Jesus knows you would do it if you had the chance. The same applies to hatred and murder. And there is no unforgivable sin, except the one Satan and his fallen angels committed. In fact, the Bible says no thief, no liar, no adulterer shall enter the kingdom of God. This is why you must be born again and become a new creation by trusting in the savior and repent (completely turning away) from your sins. God can legally dismiss your case because he became human and died on the cross to pay the punishment of your sins IF you trust in him.
it just… makes sense
Very interesting and one hast to wonder how was Paul forgiven for his persecution of the Christians?
You mean crimes under the name of God during the dark ages and crusades wars
Wow I never knew that
Thank you for the great explanation
Typical he would use Muslims as the example for bad deeds done in the name of God, witch trials and more recently the Satanic Panic are never mentioned on this channel
(edit) oh could I forget, manifest destiny, genocide in Gods name. The Bible’s morals have never changed, just ignored by most people when they deem it necessary.
https://youtu.be/aAkx4ANp974
If GOD, G-D. Then this IS THE ONE WHO BREATHE LIFE INTO YOU MORTAL FLESH. evolution is certainly not keeping you alive. GOD IS. It's like saying Prager is really speaking to you. So you should use His name as a replacement for the word sh–T, OR the f word. This man. Who you follow daily for advice. Is actually deceiving you. Read about the HOLINESS OF GOD IN THE HIGHEST FORM OF COMMUNICATION GIVEN TO MAN. Yes it is the NO. One best selling book of all time. All of time. If you are breathing heavily right now, it is not by yourself that causes this. Your sin is frustrating you because of TRUTH.
I find it incredibly ironic that for the example of "Evil committed under God's name" they chose to highlight Islamic extremists, rather than the hundreds of thousands atrocities that have been committed by Christians "for God" ….hmmmm
I hope to God that I have never done this when I was younger, pretty sure I played stupid games and probably did something sinful in his name on some level
Makes so much common sense, thank you.
Sometimes I use it in incomplete sentences….
Religion is FAITH based, dictionary definition meaning: belief in religious dogma without evidence!!
There’s zero evidence of ANY god !!
There zero evidence of any mythical Bible fairytale stories!! Bible is 90% disproven by science & logic, historically inaccurate, exaggerated or just false
There’s no eyewitness or archaeological evidence of Jesus, as a historical and magical figure!! Nobody knows exactly when he was born or when he died, the earliest non secular being Tacitus or Josephus….which are highly debatable, many of Christians go to apologetics arguments never mention name Jesus or are just Christian forgeries
It’s sad that these dumb foolish people are easily ignorant to facts and easily manipulated & indoctrinated to believe in such utter nonsense
I have watched this video several times as well the marathon on the Ten Commandments. This one truly caught my attention because I am a Christian and have taken on the name of Christ – I carry his name. I came to realize that almost anything I do that is sinful, discredits the name I carry. This is a personal and individual realization. Noted that the Lord will forgive when we repent (change). He is merciful as well as just.
The problem is not the translation.
The problem is that some expressions from the King James Bible, such as "the powers that be," are still used in modern English, whereas others like "taking in vain" have not been used since 1611, so not many among the public know what it means anymore.
But I agree with your general point.
I was under the impression blasphemying the holy spirit was the unforgivable sin.
Wait a minute why is take worse than carry?
Can you take this to the store? Can you carry this to the store?
Same the NIV is a horrible translation
It means do not pretend to be righteous when you are not, nor should one use/speak his name (since what gives man the right to use his name).
All sin separates us from God. But not all sins are equal even to God.
This whole argument collapses if one rightly rejects Prager's equating of "the Lord will not hold guiltless" with "the Lord will not forgive". These are two very different things. To be guiltless is to be innocent. This verse means that God does not take lightly someone using his name in vain, speaking His name without meaningful reverence
Psalm 139:20 "For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain."
Godammit Dennis!
Yes, this is how I've always understood it. Thank you for confirmation.
Your bias is showing. Muslims worship another 'god' not the same one as Christians. Notice the small "g"? There is a reason for that. They worship one of the Fallen Divine Council members that "I AM" put in place at Babylon. Isreal was God's nation, the rest of the Nations of the world God divorced because they did not worship Him and chose evil ways and apostacy, The rest were governed by the now Fallen Divine Council Members that "I AM" put in place. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Many people think that taking the Lord's name is swearing, cursing or using his name in a joking manner vainly, if one literally looks at some translations. I don't think this is the correct thought process for this verse either because God's name is actually Yahweh Rocchi or Yahweh Hamashiasch. My thoughts are that apostasy is the unforgivable sin–turning away from the faith when one has been baptized and has accepted the Truth as laid upon one's heart by the Holy Spirit. If this wasn't the case, there would be human spirit bodies and Fallen apostates that shall have eternal life, when the bible clearly says that the Lake of Fire is their destiny in so many words. Committing evil in Gods name can be forgiven in heaven and earth because there is a judgment day coming and all sins, accept apostacy (lying to the Holy Spirit after one has actually heard the Truth (because it is the Holy Spirits job to bare witness to the Truth about the Gospels and about Jesus in His absence) is what I would consider the unforgiveable sin, not committing evil in the name of God. If you look at some of the Crusades, many evil deeds were done by Christians in the name of God and King. The seige of Constantinople comes to mind as an example. Many Crusaders raped and killed orthodox priests and nuns in the sacking of that city, yet they were preforgiven by the Pope for their sins before the battle, and some of them were admonished later after Pope Innocent found out what had happened. Were those "sinners" excommunicated for committing the unpardonable sin? I can find no evidence of that happening. Read Michael S. Heiser's book, the "Unseen Realm" for further details about the Divine Council and Babylon.
God damn it, PragerU.