The third commandment is “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”

God’s Name reveals who he is—his nature, his character, his power, and his purposes. All forms of God’s Name are holy.

“Vain” means empty, meaningless, and of no account. To take God’s Name in vain is to treat it as such.

Because I love him, I should use God’s Name with reverence, not carelessly or profanely.

By the unholy use of God’s holy Name, especially through perjury, blasphemy, and attributing to God any falsehood, heresy, or evil deed, as if he had authorized or approved them.

Cursing, magic, broken vows, false piety, manipulation of others, and hypocrisy all cheapen God’s Name. These treat God’s Name as empty of the reality for which it stands.

I honor and love God’s Name, in which I was baptized, by keeping my vows and promises, by worshiping him in truth and holiness, and by invoking his Name reverently and responsibly.

The fourth commandment is “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

“Sabbath” is from the Hebrew shabbath, which means “rest.” “Holy” means “set apart” for God’s purposes. God commanded Israel to set apart each seventh day, following six days of work, for rest and worship.

Israel was called to rest in remembrance that God had freed them from slavery and that God rested from his work of creation, bringing joyful balance and rhythm to life, work, and worship.

As Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus taught us to keep it not merely as a duty, but as a gift of God to be received with joy and extended to others through acts of love and hospitality.

When the Church is perfected in Christ, all believers will dwell in God’s new creation, free from sin and its curse, and eternally united to God in love, adoration, and joy. This will be our unending Sabbath rest.

I cease from all unnecessary work; rest physically, mentally, and spiritually; and join with my family and church in worship, fellowship, and works of love.

My work is a gift of God that can grant me provision and satisfaction, and serve the common good, but it neither defines my life nor rules over it. I am thereby freed from resentment and sloth to work diligently and with joy for God’s glory.

The earliest Christians came to observe Sunday as “the Lord’s Day” for their primary day of worship in remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week.

Through an ordered life of weekly worship and rest throughout the Christian year, and by a regular pattern of daily prayer, I learn that time belongs to God and is ordered by him.

As I keep a weekly day of rest and worship, my faith in God my Creator is strengthened, my hope in God my Provider is renewed, and my love for God my Redeemer is deepened.

The fifth commandment is “Honor your father and your mother.”

I should love, serve, respect, and care for my parents all their lives, and should obey them in all things that are reasonable and conform to God’s Law.

Earthly fathers and mothers should represent to their children the loving care of our heavenly Father by nurturing and protecting them, teaching and modeling to them the Christian faith and life, guiding and assisting them in education, and encouraging them in their lives and vocations.

As a child, Jesus obeyed Joseph and Mary; on the Cross, he provided for his mother by entrusting her to his disciple’s care; in his life, he obeyed the lawful requirements of the civil and religious authorities; and in all things he sought to do his Father’s will.

I also keep the fifth commandment by showing respect for teachers and elders; by obeying, as far as is lawful, those who hold authority in the Church, my employment, and civil government; and by conducting myself in all things with reverent humility before God and my neighbor.

Submission to God’s appointed earthly authorities helps me to resist pride and grow in humility, and promotes the justice and peace of society in which human life flourishes.

Yes. All authority comes from God, the King of kings, who expects me to love, honor, and obey him above all earthly authorities whenever they command me to sin.