Westminster Shorter Catechism2

Q. 54 What is required in the third commandment? A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word and works. With the third commandment, it means that we will fully reverence God's name—we will see His glory instead of taking His name in vain! The third commandment calls us to no longer be dull to God's revelation of Himself (His name). We are to behold Him as He is revealed to us. This is just what Isaiah 40 calls us to do!

Q. 53 Which is the third commandment? A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. What does it mean to take His name in vain? Something is done in vain when it means nothing—when it is empty, worthless, useless (Ps 60:11, Hos 10:4). The key ingredient required to reverence God's name is faith (Heb 11:6). The 3rd commandment tells you to have a high regard for His name.

Q. 52 What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? A. The reasons annexed to second commandment are, God's sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship. Idolatry is an expression of man's hatred for God. Look at how Romans 1 shows this. We make images of God because we don't like the truth about God (Rm 1:18, 28). The problem is not that we are lacking in information about God (Rm 1:19-20). You can see how the modifications are described in verses 22 & 23. We make Him out to be a creature—like us! We want to creaturefy God because we find Him too holy and too just for our liking. The primary act of idolatry (now that Jesus has come) is the rejection of the gospel.

Q. 51 What is forbidden in the second commandment? A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in His word. See here how the problem of adding to the worship that God appointed is described by Jesus Christ. The issue was actually raised by those who were following man-made traditions. Often those who do this feel quite superior to those who do not follow their traditions. You can see in our text how they call into question the Lord Jesus Himself!

Q. 50 What is required in the second commandment? A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in His word. You ought to give yourself fully to the worship that God has appointed. Of course you ought to do this. It is disrespectful not to—He is God Almighty. Your Creator and Redeemer! Indifference about praising Him is totally inappropriate.

Q. 49 Which is the second commandment? A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. Can you see what a serious error it is for us to decide how to approach God? We are not the ones who ought to decide this. We are not capable of coming up with what pleases Him. The second commandment is really about the very gospel itself.