The Name Of The Lord

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in Vain“

I am accused of using Deuteronomy 18:15-19 quite a lot. Almost to the point of being repetitious. I plead guilty. Let me explain why.

There are a few verses in in John that will throw much light on that Deuteronomy passage. John 1:19 Now this was John’s testimony (John the Baptist) when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed—he did not deny but confessed—“I am not the Christ!” 21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No!” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

Most readers will pass over this passage without asking why the priests and Levites asked him these specific questions. Let me explain. Elijah was prophesied to come to announce the Messiah. So, they asked if John was Elijah. The next question was “are you that prophet” What prophet were they referring to? “THE Prophet” prophesied by Moses quoting YHVH. The prophet of Deuteronomy 18.

15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you—from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him. 16 This accords with what happened at Horeb in the day of the assembly. You asked the Lord your God: “Please do not make us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this great fire anymore lest we die.” 17 The Lord then said to me, “What they have said is good. 18 I will raise up a prophet like you for them from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them whatever I command. 19 I will personally hold responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the words that prophet speaks in my name.

Yeshua is That Prophet

This is so very important to understand and yet few christians have ever heard about it. Without this understanding people are easily swayed to the teachings of others.

What others? you might ask, and I can name several. There was Joseph Smith the founder of Mormonism. He claimed to have had meetings with “the angel Moroni” Jesus and even God himself. He was supposedly given new revelation, a new gospel, if you will. There was Mohammad who claimed to be given new revelation by the Angel Gabriel and wrote the Koran. There was Saul of Tarsus that changed his name to Paul after claiming to see and hear Yeshua on the road to Damascus then taught contrary to Yeshua. What is different about these men”s claims? My question is why would anyone listen to any of them when we have Yeshua’s words?

Taking Paul’s, Joseph Smith’s or Mohammed”s doctrine over that of Yeshua’s is paramount to taking YHVH’s name in vain. It is usurping Yeshua’s authority and disobeying YHVH.

Yeshua said in John 12:49

“For I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak”. 

If then Yeshua spoke the words of YHVH and YHVH will hold you accountable for not paying them any attention then why are you taking anyone’s words over the words of Yeshua? 

You might reply. Well, Paul and Yeshua taught the same things. I can give you many examples that prove otherwise.

You might reply Well, Yeshua was under another the old dispensation but Paul is under the new.  

Let me ask you this. Why would Yeshua instruct the Apostles to “go into all the world  and teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you”? That is called “the great commission” by those that teach in the church. It is Yeshua’s final instructions to the Apostles and to us. Why did He not say wait for another new Apostle or prophet and he will tell you a new way to salvation? 

If you are basing your doctrine (and also your soul) on anyone’s words other than the words of YHVH (remember Yeshua spoke for YHVH) then you are taking His name. But, not following his instructions. This is without a doubt “taking his name in vain”.

Not only did Paul not agree with Yeshua, Paul didn’t even agree with Paul.

Romans 2:13

For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Romans 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law.

In conclusion, Following anyone’s words other than the words of Yeshua  and calling yourself By YHVH’s name, as one of his people, is taking his name in vain. I will not put my soul in the hands of Mohammad, Joseph Smith or Paul. My faith, my confession and my hope is in the hands of Yeshua. I will not take YHVH’s name in vain.