Don't Profane the Name

Leviticus 19:12-18

"And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.  13 ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD.  15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.  17 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."

This passage climaxes with the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. But notice verse 12.  This isn't a separate sin from the rest of the passage. Everything else connects with doing justice and mercy to your neighbor.  God doesn't throw in something extra in vs 12: "Oh, and by the way, don't swear or make false oaths, either."  No if we disobey the rest, if we fail to deal justly and mercifully with our neighbor, then we are by doing that profaning the name of God, taking His name in vain.  We call on His name and are identified by that in our way of life, our profession of faith in Christ, our baptism.  Do not profane that profession of God’s name by what you say or do.

1/19/14