Q55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Malachi 1:6–7, 12
“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. … But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.”
Malachi 2:2
“If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.”
Commentary — Thomas Vincent (1674)
Question 1. How are God's names, titles, and attributes profaned and abused?
Answer. God's names, titles and attributes are profaned and abused:
1. When persons do think slightly and irreverently of them, without any suitable affections of them, especially when their hearts are filled with despising hatred, and aversion towards the name of God. Mal. 1. 6. "If I be a Father, where is mine honour? If I be a master where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you that despise my name."