What reasons are annexed to the third commandment?
A114: The reasons annexed to the third commandment, in these words, The Lord thy God, and, For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain,[1] are, because he is the Lord and our God, therefore his name is not to be profaned, or any way abused by us;[2] especially because he will be so far from acquitting and sparing the transgressors of this commandment, as that he will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment,[3] albeit many such escape the censures and punishments of men.[4] 1. Exod. 20:7 2. Lev. 19:12 3. Ezek. 36:21_23; Deut. 28:58_59; Zech. 5:2_4 4. I Sam. 2:12, 17, 22, 24; 3:18 ———– The Shorter catechism uses Deuteronomy 28:58-59 as the proof text, and I believe it is only from this perspective we can understand what the Divines are saying to us here. “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, then the Lord will bring upon you an
