The Ten Commandments

Preaching Profanity

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Biblical Law

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2005-04-17

Synopsis: John Weaver argues that profanity is not limited to foul language but is primarily a matter of living a life that denies God's sovereignty and disregards His Word. Using the third commandment and biblical examples, he shows that one can be profane without cursing by living as if God has no authority. He applies this to preachers who fail to teach the whole counsel of God and to Christians who profess faith but live disobediently, calling for holy lives grounded in God's law.

[John Weaver] Well, let's see, if you'll open your Bibles today to Exodus chapter 20. Exodus chapter 20. Exodus 20 and verse 7. The Lord willing, after next week I'm going to be beginning the series on how God destroys nations. But today I'm going to bring a message which I have entitled, Preaching Profanity. Listen carefully, preaching profanity. And I think you'll understand before I finish. Look in Exodus chapter 20 in verse 7.

[John Weaver] And here, of course, we find the third commandment. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him getless that taketh his name in vain. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. So the message is entitled, Preaching Profanity. Everyone knows what profanity is, right? Well, if you really don't know what profanity is, all you have to do is go into some of these special meeting places, and I'm using quotations there, I could just say pool halls, and they'll usually have a sign up there saying, No Profanity Allowed.

[John Weaver] Now, interpreted, that just simply means this, no cussing, no dirty or foul language. And, of course, sometimes we even include what we know as slang language as profanity. Every one of us have, from time to time in our life, heard and been exposed to bad and foul language. And not just from sailors, that's where we get the expression to cuss like a sailor. We also hear foul language from French folks because Americans always say, pardon my French, you know, when they say something like that. But we hear foul language from every strata of society. It used to be Where a gentleman, and of course it's still true, a real gentleman would not, but it used to be where a gentleman would never ever use any type of bad or foul language around a lady. Today, of course, men do so, and unhappily, sometimes women can curse worse than the men. They can hold their own with the best of them, or should I say the worst of them. And the amazing thing today is this, even small children can use horrible, horrible language.

[John Weaver] I remember as far back as probably 25 or 30 years ago, I was in a home with Brother Melvin Stringer. And here's a little three or four year old boy came up and he cursed Brother Stringer with a, my mouth fell open. I couldn't believe it. And I looked at Brother Stringer and I said, did you hear what that kid said? He said, yeah, I heard him. And of course, he wasn't our child or anywhere near it, but I made a statement to his grandmama that, did you hear what this child said? And she just kind of laughed, and she said, yeah, isn't it cute? I said, no, ma'am, it's not cute. But here, we hear that all the time.

[John Weaver] You see, the problem is this, and profanity or bad or foul language has been problematic down through the years. I want you to listen to an order that was issued and signed by General George Washington. Here's what he said. The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing, a vice hitherto little known in our American Army, is growing into fashion. He hopes that the officers will, by example as well as influence, endeavor to check it and that both they and the men will reflect that we can little hope of the blessing of heaven on our army if we insult it by our impiety and folly. Added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it." Signed George Washington. So George Washington said, up until that point, cursing had been relatively unknown in the American army. But now, he said, it's a growing vice, and I'm calling on all the officers to check it right now.

[John Weaver] When it comes to our language, Scripture is exceedingly clear when it says in Ephesians 4 and verse 29, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. He said, but rather that which is good. that it may minister grace to the ears. So he said, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. Now, the positive side is found in Colossians four and verse six, where God says, let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you want to answer every man. So on the one hand, He says, negatively, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. And on the other hand, positively, he says, let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt. Now, certainly all of us should always be concerned with our language, just like the Bible says to give no appearance of evil. Likewise, we should give no sound of evil as well.

[John Weaver] But most of us are totally lost when the subject of profanity arrives. Because we normally think of profanity only as cursing or using God's name with other slang words. Most of us have never, ever really understood the implications nor the extent of profanity.

[John Weaver] Now listen to me carefully, because I'm going to prove this point before I close today. When you and I limit profanity to words or expressions, Then it frees us to live a profane life and never be troubled about it. Do you realize that there are a number of preachers in this country that preach profanity and they never realize it?

[John Weaver] Now, I'm going to give you an illustration this morning that I'm sure Sooner or later, I'm going to be called to task by someone for using this illustration. But that's all right. I'm using this illustration to prove a point. So here it is. Listen carefully. Many times you will hear men, and unhappily, Southern men, will use the expression, they'll say, it's not worth a damn. Or I don't care a damn. Now, for the record, I do not use that expression even though it is not profanity. You say, how can it not be profanity? Well, originally that expression, it's not worth a damn, or I don't care a damn, was an expression of economics. It was an economic expression. The phrase, it's not worth a damn, was literally brought into our language from two specific sources.

[John Weaver] First of all, it came from England because there you had all your pots and kettles and you had tinkers who went around mending these pots and kettles and many times these unscrupulous tinkers would take a pot that had a crack in it and they would get clay and make a small dam and cover the crack in the pot. And then they would take a small thin layer of molten metal and put over the clay.

[John Weaver] Well, it certainly stopped the leak in the vessel until the vessel was heated. Then the clay dried out and the clay cracked and so did the thin layer of metal. And consequently, people began to say, it's not worth a tinker's dam. Dropping the tinker, it's not worth a dam. In other words, it was either expressive of the tinker doing a poor job, Or, the vessel was absolutely worthless, it could not be fixed, it's not worth a damn. In other words, damming it would do no good, it would still continue to leak.

[John Weaver] That is one source of that expression. But the second source, and the main one, is that expression came to us from the Duke of Wellington when he was in England. Not in England, but in India. Because in India, the coin of least value was called a dam. So when they said it's not worth a damn, it was an economic expression saying equivalent to it's not worth a cent, it's not worth a penny. We had another expression in this country, it's not worth a continental, referring to the continental dollar because of inflation. So originally that expression then certainly had nothing to do with profanity, it had nothing to do with cursing, it had nothing to do with being a sling, it was just simply an economic expression. And even today when you hear men say, I don't care a damn, what they literally mean by that is just simply, I don't care. I mean, it's not worth even thinking about. It is still basically an economic expression.

[John Weaver] In other words, I'm not going to waste my time hearing about that. Now, the reason I use this illustration is not to encourage anyone to use that term or to use that expression. But I use this illustration to show you that what we normally think of profanity is not necessarily always profanity. Listen carefully. One can be profane and never curse. One can be profane and never ever use God's name with an epitaph. One can be profane and never ever use a slang term.

[John Weaver] is far more than vulgar or vile language. It is absolutely possible to be profane and never ever use foul language. In fact, the truth of the matter is this. Most preachers who preach profanity are usually very nice, congenial, and likable men. Most Christians who live profanity are usually very likable people. So it's very easy then to be profane without using foul language. Let me give you what the American Heritage Dictionary describes as profanity. Listen carefully, because although I certainly do not rely upon a dictionary definition when it comes to teaching the truth of God, it just so happens in this instance The dictionary has a biblical truth behind it. So here's what the American Heritage Dictionary defines as profanity. Quote, the condition or quality of being profane and abusive, vulgar, and irreverent language. Now when you and I talk about profanity, we normally think of abusive, vulgar, and irreverent language.

[John Weaver] We've got that part down. We understand that. But what we don't understand is the first part, and that is the condition or the quality of being profane. So you can then be profane without ever having vulgar language. Being profane and taking the Lord's name in vain are intimately connected and so much so that basically they are interchangeable terms. You could say thou shalt not profane the name of the Lord just as easily as thou shalt not take the name of the Lord by God's in vain. Now, what in the world does it mean when God said thou shalt not take the name of the Lord by God in vain? Well, to take God's name in vain is to deny in reality that He is the one true and the living God.

[John Weaver] It is an empty profession of God when our lives, when our attitudes and our actions and oftentimes our thoughts are totally and absolutely alienated from God and blasphemously ascribed to ourselves. Let me give you a good illustration of taking God's name in vain. In Titus 1 verse 16, the Bible says, they profess that they know God. But in works, they deny Him. What is profanity? It is taking, carrying God's name in vain. They profess that they know God. In other words, here is one thing with their mouth, but in their actions, in their works, they literally deny God. So in essence then, when the life does not match up with the confession, it is a profanation of the name of God. It is carrying the name of God in vain.

[John Weaver] Now the Hebrew word for vain is the word Shav, which is in the sense of desolating, and literally it means to carry something falsely, emptily, and worthlessly. Now the word take, God says thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. The word take means to take away or to carry off, or to bear. So what in the world is the third commandment? The third commandment is basically you shall not bear the name of God emptily, falsely, or in a worthless manner.

[John Weaver] Now please listen to me. You've heard me say this before, that every negative has a positive. And when God says thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, That is the negative. Let me ask that you turn in your Bibles to, first of all, to Ephesians 4. And let me show you the positive of the third commandment in the New Testament. Notice, if you would, Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 1 to begin with. Ephesians 4, verse 1. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Ephesians 4 verse 1, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called. Now listen to what he says. I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling wherewith you are called. Your vocation deals with your calling. So he says you are to walk worthy. We are called being a Christian. So he says, I'm beseeching you, I'm begging you that you walk worthy of being called a Christian.

[John Weaver] Look at verse 17. Here, once again, is the opposite of that. He says this, I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind. Now, how do you walk worthily? First of all, you do not walk according to the way the ungodly walk. You don't walk according to the way the heathen walk. So when you walk worthily, then you are walking differently from the world. You're walking differently from the ungodly. Look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 1.

[John Weaver] Just trying to show you the positive side of the third commandment. Colossians 1 in verse 10. Here's another verse that is the positive side of the third commandment. That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

[John Weaver] Now I want you to watch carefully. In Ephesians chapter 1, walking worthy was walking differently. That is not acting like the heathen.

[John Weaver] Now when you come to Colossians 1 and verse 10, walking worthy is walking pleasingly unto the Lord, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. So walking worthily then here means that we're adding to as well as obeying. Then if you look in 1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 12. 1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 12. Here it is just stated very simply. Because here the Apostle Paul says that you would walk worthy of God who has called you into his kingdom and glory. So the opposite of thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain is walking worthily and carrying the name of God with us fully and worthily and in obedience.

[John Weaver] Now, the very first instance of the word profane as it occurs in the Bible is found in the book of Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21. So I want you to go there because I'm trying to show you today the importance and the impact as well as the implications of profanity. Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21. Here's the very first occurrence of the word profane in the Bible. And I want you to understand that when you see this it has nothing to do with language. In Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21 God says this, And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass to the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord." Now, of course, Molech was a false god. He was worshipped in the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom, and not only did they literally sacrifice children to the god Molech, They also had a purification right for those who were not literally killed, where they would be passed through the fire, so to speak, and just simply dedicated to the worship and

[John Weaver] service of Molech. Now, notice what God says in this sentence. He says, Thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech. Neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God, I am the Lord." Now, what is God saying? God says if you allow your children to pass through the fire, or if you allow your children to be sacrificed or either sanctified to Molech, you're profaning the name of the Lord. Why? Because God says, I am the one true and the living God. I'm the one that lays down the law. I'm the one that tells you how to live. I'm the one that governs your life. And when you turn from me, having professed to be my people, and now you are worshiping a false God, you are profaning my name. You are denying my sovereignty, and you're denying that I am the one and only true God. So what God is saying here is, first of all, profanity, while it Has nothing to do with the language here. It does indeed have to do with our lives, how we live, how we act, how we think.

[John Weaver] Now look in Leviticus chapter 19 in verse 12. Here's the second instance of the word profane. Leviticus 19 verse 12, the word of God says, and you shall not and you shall not swear by my name falsely. Neither lie one to another. Now look what God says. You shall not steal. That's verse 11. You shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another, and you shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord. Now, he said, you shall not swear by my name falsely. Now, when you swear by God's name falsely, then you are profaning the name of God. Now, listen carefully.

[John Weaver] What many people do not understand is that swearing and worship are intimately connected. There is a biblical form of swearing. Yes, it is true. When our Lord says in the New Testament, swear not at all, let your yea be yea and your nay be nay. He's not talking about a biblical swearing. He's talking about a false swearing and humanistic swearing. Yes, our words should be yea and nay, because as he said, we can't make one hair black and we can't do one thing. So our words should be yea and our words should be nay. But I'm going to show you there is such a thing as a biblical swearing. For he says here, thou shalt not swear by God's name falsely. And when you swear by his name falsely, what you're doing is profaning the name of the Lord.

[John Weaver] Now look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 6 and verse 13. Deuteronomy 6 verse 13. Here is a positive of that statement, Deuteronomy 6 verse 13. Look what he says. Deuteronomy 6 verse 13, Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name. Now, what is it when we swear by his name? Look in verse 14, you shall not go after other gods or the gods of the people which are round about. For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you, lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. What does it mean to swear by the name of the Lord? To swear by the name of the Lord is to say you are the one true and the living God. There are no other gods. We are going to be your people. We are going to obey you. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20. You'll see it again. Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20.

[John Weaver] Look what God says, thou shalt fear the Lord by God. And him shalt thou serve. And to him shalt thou cleave and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen." So what is it when we swear by the name of God? It's not just going by around using the term, well, I swear.

[John Weaver] No, no, no, that's not it. Swearing by the name of God is when we say, We agree. We confess. We acknowledge that he is the one true and the living God. And besides him, there is none other. And we are going to be his people. Therefore, he said that we give him the praise. We give him the honor. We give him the glory. So once again, he tells us that we are to swear by his name.

[John Weaver] Now, if you look back in your Bibles to Leviticus chapter 19 and verse 12, you ought to be able to understand that verse in light of Deuteronomy 613 and Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20, where he said, And you shall not swear by my name falsely. You shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God, I am the Lord. So when you swear falsely, what are you doing? You're profaning the name of God.

[John Weaver] I'm going to spell it out a little more plainly, I hope, in just a few moments, but let me put it like this. When we say that God is the one true and the living God, and that He is sovereign, and that He rules over all, and then we turn around and act as if there was no God, or that God had not spoken, or that God has no influence in our lives, we are profaning the name of the Lord. We are in essence carrying His name in vain.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in Isaiah 48. Because God explicitly condemns this false swearing. Look in Isaiah chapter 48 and verse 1. I hope you're beginning to see why I say that you can be profane and never curse. Look in Isaiah 48 and verse 1. Notice what God says. Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, not in righteousness. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel, the Lord of hosts is his name."

[John Weaver] In other words, what are they doing? They're saying, is the one true and the living God. We swear by Him. He is all there is. And what does God say? Yes, you're swearing by my name, but you're not doing it in truth, nor are you doing it in righteousness. In other words, your life does not back up your confession of faith. You're swearing falsely.

[John Weaver] Now, turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 7. Jeremiah 7. And let's begin reading there with verse 9. Let me show you what it means to swear by the name of God falsely. Israel was to be God's peculiar treasure. God was to be their God. God had given them His law. He says this is the way you are to live. Now watch Jeremiah 7 beginning there with verse 9. Remember, he's speaking now to God's people. He says, will you steal, murder and commit adultery and swear falsely and burn incense in the veil and walk after other gods whom you know not and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name and say, we're delivered to do all these abominations. Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?

[John Weaver] Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. But go ye now to the place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because you have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but you heard not, and I called you, but you answered not, therefore will I do unto this house which is called by my name, wherein you trust, and of the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh."

[John Weaver] Now go back up and look at verse 9. Look what God says. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense in the veil, and walk after other gods whom you know not, and come and stand before me in this house, that is, this temple, which is called by my name, and say, We're delivered to all these abominations. You know what preachers preach. You know what Christians believe? They preach and teach and believe that once you trust Christ, you can just live any way you want to live. You can do whatever you want to do.

[John Weaver] After all, you're under grace. Now let me tell you something, folks. I certainly believe that we're saved by grace through faith alone. But the truth of the matter is this, the grace that saves you and the faith that saves you makes you bow to the sovereign God of the universe. And our Lord said, if you love me, keep my commandments. Those who have been genuinely and truly saved are not going to be running around stealing, killing, murdering and worshiping false gods.

[John Weaver] You see, what is happening is we've been preaching profanity in this country for a long time. People have been believing and living profanity for a long time. God says, how dare you? Come and stand before me and say we're delivered to do all these abominations. No, you weren't delivered for that at all.

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 21. I want you to note that the priests once again were called to be holy unto the Lord. All I'm trying to show you right now is this. Profanity originally had nothing to do with language. Now, it is true that we may be profane in our language. But most people limit profanity to just language, and they live profane lives. In Leviticus chapter 21, verse 6, notice what God says concerning the priests. They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God. For the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of their God they do offer, therefore shall they be holy." Note what he said, they shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God. Now being profane in this instance had nothing to do with language. It had nothing to do with words.

[John Weaver] It did have to do, however, with actions and with attitude and with worship. If the priest, therefore, lived unholy lives, they were profaning the name of God. If the priest did not worship correctly, they were profaning the name of God. If the priest allowed that which was unholy, they were profaning the name of God. God demanded Holiness.

[John Weaver] Now look at Leviticus 22 and verse 32. Look what he says. Leviticus 22 and verse 32. Neither shall you profane my holy name. But I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord which hallowed you. By the way. Let's go back to verse 31. Look at verse 31. Therefore shall you keep my commandments and do them. I am the Lord. Neither shall you profane my holy name." In the context, how do we profane God's name? By not keeping his commandments. Do you see that? By not keeping his commandments. God said, I want to be hallowed among you.

[John Weaver] And I'm going to hallow you. And I hallow you when you obey my commandments. Instead of hallowing God's name by obeying him, we profane his name by disobeying him.

[John Weaver] Now, God was calling the priests especially to be holy. Because they dealt with holy things.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to first Samuel chapter two. And by the way, when I say that, I hope everyone in here understands that our Lord has made us kings and what priests under our God. That is correct. Look in the first Samuel chapter two. And let me show you some priests who were unholy. Now, God has been demanding holiness and the lives of those who are about him. So, in 1 Samuel chapter 2, beginning there with verse 12, the Bible says, Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial. That is, they were sons of the devil. They knew not the Lord.

[John Weaver] And we're talking about Hophni and Phinehas. And the priest's custom was, with the people, that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servants came, while the flesh was in seething, and with a flesh hook of three teeth in his He struck it into the pan, or into the kettle, or the cauldron, or pot, and all that the flesh had brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. And before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, Then take as much as thy soul desired. Then he would answer him, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now. If not, I will take it by force.

[John Weaver] Wherefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. Now, let me ask you a question just based upon that reading. Were these individuals holy men? What were they doing? They were stealing and they weren't satisfied with what God gave them. They were demanding their meat so they could grill it, so to speak, or barbecue it.

[John Weaver] They didn't want it after it was sodden. They wanted it raw. And they made people despise the offerings of God.

[John Weaver] Now skip down to verse 22. Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did in all Israel, and how they laid with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said to them, Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all those people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear you make the Lord's people to transgress.

[John Weaver] If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearken not to the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them. Noting he would, now they've gone to pure out-and-out fornication.

[John Weaver] Now skip down to verse 27. And there came a man of God, and Eli said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And I did give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel. Now look, wherefore kick you at my sacrifice and mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of the offerings of Israel my people. Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me, for them that honor me I will honor, And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

[John Weaver] And you know what God did? God told Eli, both your sons are going to die in one day. And that's exactly what God did. God killed Hophni and Phinehas in one day. Why? Because they were profane. It's not that they were using foul, filthy language. It's they were living unholy and ungodly lives. They were not concerned with the real, genuine worship of God. They were not concerned with honoring God and pleasing Him. No, they were concerned with their lives only.

[John Weaver] Let me ask you a question. How many church members and how many Christians that you know are really, genuinely concerned with obeying God and honoring Him in all things? You see what I'm saying? The average professing Christian is eat up with selfishness. And he's only concerned about himself. He's not really concerned about God at all. Being profane of the Bible dealt first and foremost with our lives, not our language.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 12. I suppose this is the classic passage, Hebrews chapter 12, on profanity. Hebrews chapter 12, and let's read verse 16. Hebrews 12, verse 16. Look what God says. Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." Now this is a very simple verse. Look at it again. "...lest there be any fornicator, or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." Now I want you to note that Esau is called a profane person.

[John Weaver] The Bible doesn't say anything about him using foul or filthy language. He may have, I don't know. But the Bible doesn't say that. The Bible doesn't say he was profane in his language. The Bible says he was a profane person.

[John Weaver] Now ask yourself this question. What made Esau a profane person? Go back in your Bibles to Genesis 25 and you know the answer. What made Esau a profane person was he despised spiritual things. He despised God and his worship and his service. In Genesis chapter 25 beginning there with verse 32. After Jacob says in verse 31 to Esau, sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright do to me? Well, Esau was not really starving to death, and you will see in a moment. And Jacob said, Swear to me this day, and he sweared to him, and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." Now, if Esau had been at the point of death, He would not have rose up and gone his way after he ate and drank. No, it was not that he was starving to death.

[John Weaver] It was not that he was perishing. He just despised that birthright. Do you know what the birthright included? The birthright included, first and foremost, not only being patriarch of the family, that is, the head of the family, it also, secondly, implied receiving a double portion of inheritance so that he would have the responsibility of taking care of his parents when they were elderly. But it also, thirdly, included the line of the Messiah.

[John Weaver] And what did he do? He despised it. I'm not interested in that. And he sold it for a mess of pottage.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you how profane he was. He not only despised God, and the blessings of the service of God. He also despises parents. You see, the fifth commandment is honored by a father and by a mother. Well, look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 28. You remember how Isaac told Jacob that he was not to take a wife out of the land, but he was to go back to Badan Arab to get him a wife. And look what happens in Genesis 28 and verse 6. When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-er-im to take him away from this, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan, and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and was going to Badan Arab. And he saw seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father. Then when he saw into Ishmael and took unto the wives which he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, and the sister of Nebuchadnezzar to be his wife.

[John Weaver] Now what did he do? When he saw that Jacob obeyed his mother and dad, and when he saw that he did not please his parents for Jacob to have a wife of the children of the land, what did he do? He purposely and deliberately went out and married someone that he knew that would be dishonoring to his father and mother, and he did it out of pure spite.

[John Weaver] One can be profane and never curse. All one has to do to be a profane person is to live his life as if God did not exist, or that God had not spoken, that God's law, that God's word has no influence and no impact upon our lives. You just live a life that ignores, forgets, overlooks, and despises that which is right and holy, and you are a profane person. Now, let me tell you what the word profane in our language literally means. Our English word profane is derived from the Latin. It is made up of two words, pro, which is a preposition which means to or toward, and phantom, which is temple. So a profane person then is someone that is facing to or toward the temple, but I want you to note that he is outside of the temple. So a profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word. He is on the outside. In other words, a profane person is someone who doesn't give a hoot what God says.

[John Weaver] Could care less about the Bible. Could care less about preaching and teaching. Could care less about pleasing God. Esau could care less about pleasing God. He could care less about pleasing his parents. He was a profane person. So, someone who is profane, then, is outside of the temple.

[John Weaver] Now, what they're saying is, I don't recognize God. I don't honor God. I live my life the way I want to live my life. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 24. Acts 24. Acts 24 and look at verse 6. Because the Apostle Paul was charged with profanity. Look at Acts 24 and verse 6. The Bible says,"...who also have gone about to profane the temple whom we took and would have judged according to our law." They said the Apostle Paul was going about to profane the temple.

[John Weaver] Now, of course, he was not doing any such thing. They only thought that he was, and they took him and would have killed him. until the Roman captain saved his life and now of course he is appearing before the king.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter 21 and here's what they thought was going to happen when the Apostle Paul was supposedly profaning the temple. Acts chapter 21 beginning there with verse 28. The Jews were crying out, men of Israel help! This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place, and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus, an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. Well, of course, Paul Had not brought him into the temple, but they just simply suppose that now the interesting thing is this. When they accused the Apostle Paul of profaning the temple. In Acts 24 and verse 6.

[John Weaver] The Greek word for profane is bevelo. It literally means to profane or to desecrate. And it is made up of two words. First of all, basis. which means to walk, or a pace, and belos, which means a threshold. So to profane then literally means to walk across the threshold. Now watch this. This is a different sermon. I'm not going to preach on this right now. But they thought that the Apostle Paul had profaned the temple by walking across the threshold and bringing into the temple someone or something that should not be there.

[John Weaver] That would be inside profanation. That's a different sermon. But the word just simply means to walk across the threshold. You can also walk across the threshold outside of the temple. That's where we get the word, our English word, profaned from. which means then to or toward the temple. So many people have crossed the threshold, so to speak. They've gone outside the temple and they live a life that says, God has no authority over me. God has no right to tell me what to do. They are profane people.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel, Chapter 22. Ezekiel 22. And I want you to note carefully, verse 26. Ezekiel 22. And verse 26. Look what God says. We're talking about profanity now. Ezekiel 22, verse 26. God says her priests have violated my law and have profaned my holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths. Now look, and I am profaned among them. Did you hear that? I am profaned among them.

[John Weaver] What did the priest do? They violated God's law. They profaned His holy things. In other words, they did not make a distinction, listen carefully, between that which was holy and that which was unholy. They did not make a distinction between that which is clean and that which is unclean. And God says they have profaned my name. Now listen. In this sense of the word, the word profane could be understood as to taking something that should be highly reverenced and making it commonplace. What do men do when they use God's name in every sentence, or Jesus in every sentence, usually cursing? They're taking that which should be highly reverenced and unique and special and making it commonplace. Moreover, when you and I live our lives as if the Bible means nothing to us, And God's law has no authority over us. We are still profaning God's name. Why? Because we are treating Him as just another God. He is not the God. He is not the sovereign God of heaven and earth. He's just a God.

[John Weaver] We're basically bringing Him down to the level. of all the false gods. Thus, we are profaning the name of God.

[John Weaver] Now, let me make some applications to it together. I want you to think this through with me. The title of the message was Preaching Profanity. When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God, when they do not apply the word of God to every area and every sphere of life, they are preaching profanity. You know what God said in Deuteronomy 18 verse 3? He said that I might make thee know that man doth not live by bread alone, listen carefully, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Did you know our Lord in Luke 4 verse 4 answered Satan and said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Let me tell you, it does matter how we live. It does matter whether or not we obey the word of God. It does matter whether or not we are outside of the temple or inside of the temple. It does matter whether or not all of God's word is taught. That's why the scripture says in Proverbs 13 verse 5 every word of God is pure.

[John Weaver] You know, I've preached messages away. My wife can tell you because she's heard some of the comments from time to time. I've preached messages to some of these other churches and. An occasion I'll have even a preacher say, but usually it's the people. Well, I bet you don't preach this way to your own people. And I say, well, truthfully, I try it out on them before I ever try it out on you. You know, they get it first.

[John Weaver] But they cannot comprehend the fact that that you would have someone who would sit there and listen to everything that the Bible taught and take it. Well, I got news for you, folks, we are bound by the word of God and when we do not apply the word of God to the totality of life, We are preaching profanity. All of God's Word is applicable. There are principles that can be drawn from every aspect of the Word of God. What has doomed and damned our nation is the preaching of profanity. We think that we can profess with the loudest voice that God is the one true and the living God, and then live any way we please.

[John Weaver] Secondly, I'm hitting it right now. When we endeavor to live our lives apart from God and His law word, we are living profane lives and we're taking the name of God in vain. We're denying that it is His sovereignty that undergirds reality. We deny His sovereignty that we may establish our own. We deny his law that we may establish our own. To take the name of the Lord in truth means that we ground our lives, our actions, and our attitudes firmly and fully upon him and his word. When we carry his name in truth, we are living holy, obedient lives and not profane ones.

[John Weaver] And the last application should be exceedingly clear. We should now be able to see the absolute error of relativism. There is no such thing, folks, as a common ground or common gray. There are absolutes. There is a right and there is a wrong. There is a difference between the holy and the unholy, the clean and the unclean. And God says that we are to establish our lives by making that distinction between the holy and the unholy and the clean and the unclean. All who refuse to make that distinction are profane.

[John Weaver] That's what he said in Ezekiel 22 and verse 26. They profane my name. Why? They refuse to make the distinction between the holy and unholy and the clean and the unclean. When you live your life outside of the temple, it doesn't mean it is relativistic. It means it is wrong. Because you have crossed the threshold and you've gone apart from God's law to follow your own autonomous ways. We either obey God and carry His name and truth or we disobey him and profane his name. Profanity is not just language, it's a life. And God says, lest there be a profane person as Esau, who for one mess of despised God and His Word. Let's pray. Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ that You would make us holy people and not profane people. May our lives be grounded fully and firmly and completely and totally upon Your Word, upon Your law. Give us grace, Lord, that we may bring our lives in conformity to that Word Give us grace to serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

[John Weaver] Help us, Lord, to always honor Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Preaching Profanity

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	42305204113
Subject	Biblical Law
Course	The Ten Commandments
Genre	Sermon
Date	2005-04-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 001: The Ten Commandments — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	76

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Third Commandment and Common Views of Profanity

Weaver introduces the third commandment and notes that most people limit profanity to cursing or foul language, but the biblical concept is much broader.

Well, let's see, if you'll open your Bibles today to Exodus chapter 20. Exodus chapter 20. Exodus 20 and verse 7. The Lord willing, after next week I'm going to be beginning the series on how God destroys nations. But today I'm going to bring a message which I have entitled, "Preaching Profanity." Listen carefully, preaching profanity. And I think you'll understand before I finish. Look in Exodus chapter 20 in verse 7.

And here, of course, we find the third commandment. "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." Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. So the message is entitled, "Preaching Profanity." Everyone knows what profanity is, right? Well, if you really don't know what profanity is, all you have to do is go into some of these special meeting places, and I'm using quotations there, I could just say pool halls, and they'll usually have a sign up there saying, "No Profanity Allowed."

Now, interpreted, that just simply means this: no cussing, no dirty or foul language. And, of course, sometimes we even include what we know as slang language as profanity. Every one of us have, from time to time in our life, heard and been exposed to bad and foul language. And not just from sailors, that's where we get the expression to cuss like a sailor. We also hear foul language from French folks because Americans always say, "Pardon my French," you know, when they say something like that. But we hear foul language from every strata of society. It used to be where a gentleman, and of course it's still true, a real gentleman would not, but it used to be where a gentleman would never ever use any type of bad or foul language around a lady. Today, of course, men do so, and unhappily, sometimes women can curse worse than the men. They can hold their own with the best of them, or should I say the worst of them. And the amazing thing today is this: even small children can use horrible, horrible language.

The Prevalence of Foul Language in Society

He describes how foul language is common across all levels of society, including children, and contrasts it with historical standards like George Washington's order against cursing in the army.

I remember as far back as probably 25 or 30 years ago, I was in a home with Brother Melvin Stringer. And here's a little three or four year old boy came up and he cursed Brother Stringer with a—my mouth fell open. I couldn't believe it. And I looked at Brother Stringer and I said, "Did you hear what that kid said?" He said, "Yeah, I heard him." And of course, he wasn't our child or anywhere near it, but I made a statement to his grandmama that, "Did you hear what this child said?" And she just kind of laughed, and she said, "Yeah, isn't it cute?" I said, "No, ma'am, it's not cute." But here, we hear that all the time. You see, the problem is this, and profanity or bad or foul language has been problematic down through the years. I want you to listen to an order that was issued and signed by General George Washington. Here's what he said: "The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing, a vice hitherto little known in our American Army, is growing into fashion. He hopes that the officers will, by example as well as influence, endeavor to check it and that both they and the men will reflect that we can little hope of the blessing of heaven on our army if we insult it by our impiety and folly. Added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it." Signed George Washington. So George Washington said, up until that point, cursing had been relatively unknown in the American army. But now, he said, it's a growing vice, and I'm calling on all the officers to check it right now.

When it comes to our language, Scripture is exceedingly clear when it says in Ephesians 4 and verse 29,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:29

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth."

He said,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:29

"But rather that which is good, that it may minister grace to the ears."

So he said, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. Now, the positive side is found in Colossians 4 and verse 6, where God says, "Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer every man." So on the one hand, He says, negatively, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. And on the other hand, positively, He says, let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt. Now, certainly all of us should always be concerned with our language, just like the Bible says to give no appearance of evil. Likewise, we should give no sound of evil as well.

Limiting Profanity to Words Frees Us to Live Profane Lives

Weaver argues that when we restrict profanity to language, we can live profanely without conviction, and many preachers unknowingly preach profanity.

But most of us are totally lost when the subject of profanity arrives. Because we normally think of profanity only as cursing or using God's name with other slang words. Most of us have never, ever really understood the implications nor the extent of profanity. Now listen to me carefully, because I'm going to prove this point before I close today. When you and I limit profanity to words or expressions, then it frees us to live a profane life and never be troubled about it. Do you realize that there are a number of preachers in this country that preach profanity and they never realize it?

Now, I'm going to give you an illustration this morning that I'm sure sooner or later, I'm going to be called to task by someone for using this illustration. But that's all right. I'm using this illustration to prove a point. So here it is. Listen carefully. Many times you will hear men, and unhappily, Southern men, will use the expression, they'll say, "It's not worth a damn." Or "I don't care a damn." Now, for the record, I do not use that expression even though it is not profanity. You say, "How can it not be profanity?" Well, originally that expression, "It's not worth a damn," or "I don't care a damn," was an expression of economics. It was an economic expression. The phrase, "It's not worth a damn," was literally brought into our language from two specific sources.

Illustration: The Expression 'Not Worth a Damn'

He uses the phrase 'not worth a damn' to show that what is often considered profanity may not be, illustrating that profanity is more than words.

First of all, it came from England because there you had all your pots and kettles and you had tinkers who went around mending these pots and kettles and many times these unscrupulous tinkers would take a pot that had a crack in it and they would get clay and make a small dam and cover the crack in the pot. And then they would take a small thin layer of molten metal and put over the clay. Well, it certainly stopped the leak in the vessel until the vessel was heated. Then the clay dried out and the clay cracked and so did the thin layer of metal. And consequently, people began to say, "It's not worth a tinker's dam." Dropping the tinker, "It's not worth a dam." In other words, it was either expressive of the tinker doing a poor job, or the vessel was absolutely worthless, it could not be fixed, it's not worth a damn. In other words, damming it would do no good, it would still continue to leak.

That is one source of that expression. But the second source, and the main one, is that expression came to us from the Duke of Wellington when he was in England—not in England, but in India. Because in India, the coin of least value was called a dam. So when they said "It's not worth a damn," it was an economic expression saying equivalent to "It's not worth a cent, it's not worth a penny." We had another expression in this country, "It's not worth a continental," referring to the continental dollar because of inflation. So originally that expression then certainly had nothing to do with profanity, it had nothing to do with cursing, it had nothing to do with being a slang, it was just simply an economic expression. And even today when you hear men say, "I don't care a damn," what they literally mean by that is just simply, "I don't care. I mean, it's not worth even thinking about." It is still basically an economic expression.

In other words, I'm not going to waste my time hearing about that. Now, the reason I use this illustration is not to encourage anyone to use that term or to use that expression. But I use this illustration to show you that what we normally think of profanity is not necessarily always profanity. Listen carefully. One can be profane and never curse. One can be profane and never ever use God's name with an epithet. One can be profane and never ever use a slang term.

The Biblical Definition of Profanity: Taking God's Name in Vain

Profanity is defined as taking God's name in vain, which means bearing His name emptily or falsely by living in a way that denies He is the true God.

Profanity is far more than vulgar or vile language. It is absolutely possible to be profane and never ever use foul language. In fact, the truth of the matter is this. Most preachers who preach profanity are usually very nice, congenial, and likable men. Most Christians who live profanity are usually very likable people. So it's very easy then to be profane without using foul language. Let me give you what the American Heritage Dictionary describes as profanity. Listen carefully, because although I certainly do not rely upon a dictionary definition when it comes to teaching the truth of God, it just so happens in this instance the dictionary has a biblical truth behind it. So here's what the American Heritage Dictionary defines as profanity. Quote, "The condition or quality of being profane and abusive, vulgar, and irreverent language." Now when you and I talk about profanity, we normally think of abusive, vulgar, and irreverent language.

We've got that part down. We understand that. But what we don't understand is the first part, and that is the condition or the quality of being profane. So you can then be profane without ever having vulgar language. Being profane and taking the Lord's name in vain are intimately connected and so much so that basically they are interchangeable terms. You could say "Thou shalt not profane the name of the Lord" just as easily as "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." Now, what in the world does it mean when God said "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"? Well, to take God's name in vain is to deny in reality that He is the one true and the living God.

It is an empty profession of God when our lives, when our attitudes and our actions and oftentimes our thoughts are totally and absolutely alienated from God and blasphemously ascribed to ourselves. Let me give you a good illustration of taking God's name in vain. In Titus 1 verse 16, the Bible says, "They profess that they know God. But in works, they deny Him." What is profanity? It is taking, carrying God's name in vain. They profess that they know God. In other words, here is one thing with their mouth, but in their actions, in their works, they literally deny God. So in essence then, when the life does not match up with the confession, it is a profanation of the name of God. It is carrying the name of God in vain.

Now the Hebrew word for vain is the word Shav, which is in the sense of desolating, and literally it means to carry something falsely, emptily, and worthlessly. Now the word take, God says "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." The word take means to take away or to carry off, or to bear. So what in the world is the third commandment? The third commandment is basically you shall not bear the name of God emptily, falsely, or in a worthless manner.

The Positive Command: Walking Worthy of the Lord

The opposite of taking God's name in vain is walking worthy of the calling, which involves living differently from the world and obeying God's commands.

Now please listen to me. You've heard me say this before, that every negative has a positive. And when God says "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," that is the negative. Let me ask that you turn in your Bibles to, first of all, to Ephesians 4. And let me show you the positive of the third commandment in the New Testament. Notice, if you would, Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 1 to begin with. Ephesians 4, verse 1. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Ephesians 4 verse 1, "I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called." Now listen to what he says. "I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling wherewith you are called." Your vocation deals with your calling. So he says you are to walk worthy. We are called being a Christian. So he says, I'm beseeching you, I'm begging you that you walk worthy of being called a Christian.

Look at verse 17. Here, once again, is the opposite of that. He says this, "I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind." Now, how do you walk worthily? First of all, you do not walk according to the way the ungodly walk. You don't walk according to the way the heathen walk. So when you walk worthily, then you are walking differently from the world. You're walking differently from the ungodly. Look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 1.

Just trying to show you the positive side of the third commandment. Colossians 1 in verse 10. Here's another verse that is the positive side of the third commandment. "That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Now I want you to watch carefully. In Ephesians chapter 1, walking worthy was walking differently. That is not acting like the heathen. Now when you come to Colossians 1 and verse 10, walking worthy is walking pleasingly unto the Lord, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. So walking worthily then here means that we're adding to as well as obeying. Then if you look in 1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 12. 1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 12. Here it is just stated very simply. Because here the Apostle Paul says "that you would walk worthy of God who has called you into his kingdom and glory." So the opposite of "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" is walking worthily and carrying the name of God with us fully and worthily and in obedience.

Now, the very first instance of the word profane as it occurs in the Bible is found in the book of Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21. So I want you to go there because I'm trying to show you today the importance and the impact as well as the implications of profanity. Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21. Here's the very first occurrence of the word profane in the Bible. And I want you to understand that when you see this it has nothing to do with language. In Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21 God says this, "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass to the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord." Now, of course, Molech was a false god. He was worshipped in the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom, and not only did they literally sacrifice children to the god Molech, they also had a purification rite for those who were not literally killed, where they would be passed through the fire, so to speak, and just simply dedicated to the worship and

Old Testament Examples of Profanity Without Foul Language

Weaver examines Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and 1 Samuel to show that profanity in Scripture is about idolatry, false swearing, disobedience, and unholy living, not language.

service of Molech. Now, notice what God says in this sentence. He says, "Thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech. Neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God, I am the Lord." Now, what is God saying? God says if you allow your children to pass through the fire, or if you allow your children to be sacrificed or either sanctified to Molech, you're profaning the name of the Lord. Why? Because God says, "I am the one true and the living God. I'm the one that lays down the law. I'm the one that tells you how to live. I'm the one that governs your life. And when you turn from me, having professed to be my people, and now you are worshiping a false God, you are profaning my name. You are denying my sovereignty, and you're denying that I am the one and only true God." So what God is saying here is, first of all, profanity, while it has nothing to do with the language here, it does indeed have to do with our lives, how we live, how we act, how we think.

Now look in Leviticus chapter 19 in verse 12. Here's the second instance of the word profane. Leviticus 19 verse 12, the word of God says, "And you shall not swear by my name falsely. Neither lie one to another." Now look what God says. "You shall not steal." That's verse 11. "You shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another, and you shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord." Now, he said, "You shall not swear by my name falsely." Now, when you swear by God's name falsely, then you are profaning the name of God. Now, listen carefully.

What many people do not understand is that swearing and worship are intimately connected. There is a biblical form of swearing. Yes, it is true. When our Lord says in the New Testament, "Swear not at all, let your yea be yea and your nay be nay," He's not talking about a biblical swearing. He's talking about a false swearing and humanistic swearing. Yes, our words should be yea and nay, because as he said, we can't make one hair black and we can't do one thing. So our words should be yea and our words should be nay. But I'm going to show you there is such a thing as a biblical swearing. For he says here, "Thou shalt not swear by God's name falsely." And when you swear by his name falsely, what you're doing is profaning the name of the Lord.

Now look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 6 and verse 13. Deuteronomy 6 verse 13. Here is a positive of that statement, Deuteronomy 6 verse 13. Look what he says. Deuteronomy 6 verse 13,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 6:13

"Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name."

Now, what is it when we swear by his name? Look in verse 14,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 6:13

"You shall not go after other gods or the gods of the people which are round about. For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you, lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee and destroy thee from off the face of the earth."

What does it mean to swear by the name of the Lord? To swear by the name of the Lord is to say you are the one true and the living God. There are no other gods. We are going to be your people. We are going to obey you. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20. You'll see it again. Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20.

Look what God says, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God. And him shalt thou serve. And to him shalt thou cleave and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen." So what is it when we swear by the name of God? It's not just going around using the term, "Well, I swear." No, no, no, that's not it. Swearing by the name of God is when we say, "We agree. We confess. We acknowledge that he is the one true and the living God. And besides him, there is none other. And we are going to be his people." Therefore, he said that we give him the praise. We give him the honor. We give him the glory. So once again, he tells us that we are to swear by his name.

Now, if you look back in your Bibles to Leviticus chapter 19 and verse 12, you ought to be able to understand that verse in light of Deuteronomy 6:13 and Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20, where he said, "And you shall not swear by my name falsely. You shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God, I am the Lord." So when you swear falsely, what are you doing? You're profaning the name of God. I'm going to spell it out a little more plainly, I hope, in just a few moments, but let me put it like this. When we say that God is the one true and the living God, and that He is sovereign, and that He rules over all, and then we turn around and act as if there was no God, or that God had not spoken, or that God has no influence in our lives, we are profaning the name of the Lord. We are in essence carrying His name in vain.

Now, I want you to look in Isaiah 48. Because God explicitly condemns this false swearing. Look in Isaiah chapter 48 and verse 1. I hope you're beginning to see why I say that you can be profane and never curse. Look in Isaiah 48 and verse 1. Notice what God says.

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 48:1

"Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, not in righteousness. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel, the Lord of hosts is his name."

In other words, what are they doing? They're saying, "He is the one true and the living God. We swear by Him. He is all there is." And what does God say? "Yes, you're swearing by my name, but you're not doing it in truth, nor are you doing it in righteousness." In other words, your life does not back up your confession of faith. You're swearing falsely.

Now, turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 7. Jeremiah 7. And let's begin reading there with verse 9. Let me show you what it means to swear by the name of God falsely. Israel was to be God's peculiar treasure. God was to be their God. God had given them His law. He says this is the way you are to live. Now watch Jeremiah 7 beginning there with verse 9. Remember, he's speaking now to God's people. He says,

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 7:9-11

"Will you steal, murder and commit adultery and swear falsely and burn incense in the veil and walk after other gods whom you know not and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name and say, 'We're delivered to do all these abominations.' Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?

Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. But go ye now to the place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because you have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but you heard not, and I called you, but you answered not, therefore will I do unto this house which is called by my name, wherein you trust, and of the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh." Now go back up and look at verse 9. Look what God says. "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense in the veil, and walk after other gods whom you know not, and come and stand before me in this house," that is, this temple, "which is called by my name, and say, 'We're delivered to all these abominations.'" You know what preachers preach. You know what Christians believe? They preach and teach and believe that once you trust Christ, you can just live any way you want to live. You can do whatever you want to do.

After all, you're under grace. Now let me tell you something, folks. I certainly believe that we're saved by grace through faith alone. But the truth of the matter is this, the grace that saves you and the faith that saves you makes you bow to the sovereign God of the universe. And our Lord said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Those who have been genuinely and truly saved are not going to be running around stealing, killing, murdering and worshiping false gods. You see, what is happening is we've been preaching profanity in this country for a long time. People have been believing and living profanity for a long time. God says, "How dare you? Come and stand before me and say we're delivered to do all these abominations." No, you weren't delivered for that at all.

Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 21. I want you to note that the priests once again were called to be holy unto the Lord. All I'm trying to show you right now is this. Profanity originally had nothing to do with language. Now, it is true that we may be profane in our language. But most people limit profanity to just language, and they live profane lives. In Leviticus chapter 21, verse 6, notice what God says concerning the priests. "They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God. For the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of their God they do offer, therefore shall they be holy." Note what he said, "They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God." Now being profane in this instance had nothing to do with language. It had nothing to do with words.

It did have to do, however, with actions and with attitude and with worship. If the priest, therefore, lived unholy lives, they were profaning the name of God. If the priest did not worship correctly, they were profaning the name of God. If the priest allowed that which was unholy, they were profaning the name of God. God demanded holiness.

Now look at Leviticus 22 and verse 32. Look what he says. Leviticus 22 and verse 32. "Neither shall you profane my holy name. But I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord which hallowed you." By the way, let's go back to verse 31. Look at verse 31. "Therefore shall you keep my commandments and do them. I am the Lord. Neither shall you profane my holy name." In the context, how do we profane God's name? By not keeping his commandments. Do you see that? By not keeping his commandments. God said, "I want to be hallowed among you."

And I'm going to hallow you. And I hallow you when you obey my commandments. Instead of hallowing God's name by obeying him, we profane his name by disobeying him. Now, God was calling the priests especially to be holy. Because they dealt with holy things.

Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 2. And by the way, when I say that, I hope everyone in here understands that our Lord has made us kings and priests under our God. That is correct. Look in 1 Samuel chapter 2. And let me show you some priests who were unholy. Now, God has been demanding holiness in the lives of those who are about him. So, in 1 Samuel chapter 2, beginning there with verse 12, the Bible says, "Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial." That is, they were sons of the devil. They knew not the Lord.

And we're talking about Hophni and Phinehas. "And the priest's custom was, with the people, that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servants came, while the flesh was in seething, and with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand he struck it into the pan, or into the kettle, or the cauldron, or pot, and all that the flesh hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. And before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came and said to the man that sacrificed, 'Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh, but raw.' And if any man said unto him, 'Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, then take as much as thy soul desired.' Then he would answer him, 'Nay, but thou shalt give it me now. If not, I will take it by force.'

Wherefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. Now, let me ask you a question just based upon that reading. Were these individuals holy men? What were they doing? They were stealing and they weren't satisfied with what God gave them. They were demanding their meat so they could grill it, so to speak, or barbecue it. They didn't want it after it was sodden. They wanted it raw. And they made people despise the offerings of God.

Now skip down to verse 22. "Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did in all Israel, and how they laid with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said to them, 'Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all those people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear you make the Lord's people to transgress.' If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearken not to the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them." Noting he would, now they've gone to pure out-and-out fornication.

Now skip down to verse 27. "And there came a man of God, and said unto Eli, 'Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And I did give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel. Now look, wherefore kick you at my sacrifice and mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of the offerings of Israel my people. Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me, for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'

And you know what God did? God told Eli, "Both your sons are going to die in one day." And that's exactly what God did. God killed Hophni and Phinehas in one day. Why? Because they were profane. It's not that they were using foul, filthy language. It's they were living unholy and ungodly lives. They were not concerned with the real, genuine worship of God. They were not concerned with honoring God and pleasing Him. No, they were concerned with their lives only.

Let me ask you a question. How many church members and how many Christians that you know are really, genuinely concerned with obeying God and honoring Him in all things? You see what I'm saying? The average professing Christian is eat up with selfishness. And he's only concerned about himself. He's not really concerned about God at all. Being profane in the Bible dealt first and foremost with our lives, not our language.

Esau as the Classic Profane Person

Esau is called a profane person because he despised his birthright and spiritual things, not because of his language, demonstrating that profanity is a life lived outside God's authority.

Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 12. I suppose this is the classic passage, Hebrews chapter 12, on profanity. Hebrews chapter 12, and let's read verse 16. Hebrews 12, verse 16. Look what God says. "Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." Now this is a very simple verse. Look at it again. "...lest there be any fornicator, or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." Now I want you to note that Esau is called a profane person.

The Bible doesn't say anything about him using foul or filthy language. He may have, I don't know. But the Bible doesn't say that. The Bible doesn't say he was profane in his language. The Bible says he was a profane person.

Now ask yourself this question. What made Esau a profane person? Go back in your Bibles to Genesis 25 and you know the answer. What made Esau a profane person was he despised spiritual things. He despised God and his worship and his service. In Genesis chapter 25 beginning there with verse 32. After Jacob says in verse 31 to Esau,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 25:31-34

"Sell me this day thy birthright."

And Esau said,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 25:31-34

"Behold, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright do to me?"

Well, Esau was not really starving to death, and you will see in a moment. And Jacob said,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 25:31-34

"Swear to me this day,"

and he sweared to him, and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." Now, if Esau had been at the point of death, he would not have rose up and gone his way after he ate and drank. No, it was not that he was starving to death.

It was not that he was perishing. He just despised that birthright. Do you know what the birthright included? The birthright included, first and foremost, not only being patriarch of the family, that is, the head of the family, it also, secondly, implied receiving a double portion of inheritance so that he would have the responsibility of taking care of his parents when they were elderly. But it also, thirdly, included the line of the Messiah. And what did he do? He despised it. "I'm not interested in that." And he sold it for a mess of pottage.

Now, let me show you how profane he was. He not only despised God, and the blessings of the service of God, he also despises parents. You see, the fifth commandment is honored by a father and by a mother. Well, look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 28. You remember how Isaac told Jacob that he was not to take a wife out of the land, but he was to go back to Padan-aram to get him a wife. And look what happens in Genesis 28 and verse 6. "When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan-aram to take him away from this, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge saying, 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan,' and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and was going to Padan-aram. And he saw seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father. Then when he saw into Ishmael and took unto the wives which he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, and the sister of Nebajoth to be his wife."

Now what did he do? When he saw that Jacob obeyed his mother and dad, and when he saw that he did not please his parents for Jacob to have a wife of the children of the land, what did he do? He purposely and deliberately went out and married someone that he knew that would be dishonoring to his father and mother, and he did it out of pure spite. One can be profane and never curse. All one has to do to be a profane person is to live his life as if God did not exist, or that God had not spoken, that God's law, that God's word has no influence and no impact upon our lives. You just live a life that ignores, forgets, overlooks, and despises that which is right and holy, and you are a profane person. Now, let me tell you what the word profane in our language literally means. Our English word profane is derived from the Latin. It is made up of two words, pro, which is a preposition which means to or toward, and fanum, which is temple. So a profane person then is someone that is facing to or toward the temple, but I want you to note that he is outside of the temple. So a profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word. He is on the outside. In other words, a profane person is someone who doesn't give a hoot what God says.

The Etymology of 'Profane': Outside the Temple

The word 'profane' comes from Latin meaning 'outside the temple,' indicating a life lived apart from God and His Word, crossing the threshold away from His authority.

Could care less about the Bible. Could care less about preaching and teaching. Could care less about pleasing God. Esau could care less about pleasing God. He could care less about pleasing his parents. He was a profane person. So, someone who is profane, then, is outside of the temple.

Now, what they're saying is, "I don't recognize God. I don't honor God. I live my life the way I want to live my life." I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 24. Acts 24. Acts 24 and look at verse 6. Because the Apostle Paul was charged with profanity. Look at Acts 24 and verse 6. The Bible says, "...who also have gone about to profane the temple whom we took and would have judged according to our law." They said the Apostle Paul was going about to profane the temple.

Now, of course, he was not doing any such thing. They only thought that he was, and they took him and would have killed him, until the Roman captain saved his life and now of course he is appearing before the king. Now I want you to look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter 21 and here's what they thought was going to happen when the Apostle Paul was supposedly profaning the temple. Acts chapter 21 beginning there with verse 28. The Jews were crying out, "Men of Israel help! This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place, and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus, an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple." Well, of course, Paul had not brought him into the temple, but they just simply suppose that. Now the interesting thing is this. When they accused the Apostle Paul of profaning the temple in Acts 24 and verse 6.

The Greek word for profane is bebēloō. It literally means to profane or to desecrate. And it is made up of two words. First of all, basis, which means to walk, or a pace, and bēlos, which means a threshold. So to profane then literally means to walk across the threshold. Now watch this. This is a different sermon. I'm not going to preach on this right now. But they thought that the Apostle Paul had profaned the temple by walking across the threshold and bringing into the temple someone or something that should not be there.

That would be inside profanation. That's a different sermon. But the word just simply means to walk across the threshold. You can also walk across the threshold outside of the temple. That's where we get the word, our English word, profane from, which means then to or toward the temple. So many people have crossed the threshold, so to speak. They've gone outside the temple and they live a life that says, "God has no authority over me. God has no right to tell me what to do." They are profane people.

Ezekiel 22: Failing to Distinguish Holy from Profane

God says He is profaned when priests fail to distinguish between holy and unholy, clean and unclean, making His name commonplace by treating Him as just another god.

Look in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 22. Ezekiel 22. And I want you to note carefully, verse 26. Ezekiel 22 and verse 26. Look what God says. We're talking about profanity now. Ezekiel 22, verse 26. God says

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 22:26

"Her priests have violated my law and have profaned my holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths. Now look, and I am profaned among them."

Did you hear that?

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 22:26

"I am profaned among them."

What did the priest do? They violated God's law. They profaned His holy things. In other words, they did not make a distinction, listen carefully, between that which was holy and that which was unholy. They did not make a distinction between that which is clean and that which is unclean. And God says they have profaned my name. Now listen. In this sense of the word, the word profane could be understood as to taking something that should be highly reverenced and making it commonplace. What do men do when they use God's name in every sentence, or Jesus in every sentence, usually cursing? They're taking that which should be highly reverenced and unique and special and making it commonplace. Moreover, when you and I live our lives as if the Bible means nothing to us, and God's law has no authority over us, we are still profaning God's name. Why? Because we are treating Him as just another God. He is not the God. He is not the sovereign God of heaven and earth. He's just a God.

We're basically bringing Him down to the level of all the false gods. Thus, we are profaning the name of God.

Applications: Preaching and Living Profanity Today

Weaver applies the message: preachers who do not declare the whole counsel of God preach profanity; Christians who live apart from God's law live profane lives; relativism is error because there are absolutes.

Now, let me make some applications to it together. I want you to think this through with me. The title of the message was "Preaching Profanity." When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God, when they do not apply the word of God to every area and every sphere of life, they are preaching profanity. You know what God said in Deuteronomy 8 verse 3? He said "that I might make thee know that man doth not live by bread alone, listen carefully, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Did you know our Lord in Luke 4 verse 4 answered Satan and said "that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Let me tell you, it does matter how we live. It does matter whether or not we obey the word of God. It does matter whether or not we are outside of the temple or inside of the temple. It does matter whether or not all of God's word is taught. That's why the scripture says in Proverbs 30 verse 5 every word of God is pure.

You know, I've preached messages away. My wife can tell you because she's heard some of the comments from time to time. I've preached messages to some of these other churches and on occasion I'll have even a preacher say, but usually it's the people, "Well, I bet you don't preach this way to your own people." And I say, "Well, truthfully, I try it out on them before I ever try it out on you. You know, they get it first."

But they cannot comprehend the fact that you would have someone who would sit there and listen to everything that the Bible taught and take it. Well, I got news for you, folks, we are bound by the word of God and when we do not apply the word of God to the totality of life, we are preaching profanity. All of God's Word is applicable. There are principles that can be drawn from every aspect of the Word of God. What has doomed and damned our nation is the preaching of profanity. We think that we can profess with the loudest voice that God is the one true and the living God, and then live any way we please. Secondly, I'm hitting it right now. When we endeavor to live our lives apart from God and His law word, we are living profane lives and we're taking the name of God in vain. We're denying that it is His sovereignty that undergirds reality. We deny His sovereignty that we may establish our own. We deny his law that we may establish our own. To take the name of the Lord in truth means that we ground our lives, our actions, and our attitudes firmly and fully upon him and his word. When we carry his name in truth, we are living holy, obedient lives and not profane ones.

And the last application should be exceedingly clear. We should now be able to see the absolute error of relativism. There is no such thing, folks, as a common ground or common gray. There are absolutes. There is a right and there is a wrong. There is a difference between the holy and the unholy, the clean and the unclean. And God says that we are to establish our lives by making that distinction between the holy and the unholy and the clean and the unclean. All who refuse to make that distinction are profane.

That's what he said in Ezekiel 22 and verse 26. "They profane my name." Why? They refuse to make the distinction between the holy and unholy and the clean and the unclean. When you live your life outside of the temple, it doesn't mean it is relativistic. It means it is wrong. Because you have crossed the threshold and you've gone apart from God's law to follow your own autonomous ways. We either obey God and carry His name in truth or we disobey him and profane his name. Profanity is not just language, it's a life. And God says, "Lest there be a profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat despised God and His Word." Let's pray. Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ that You would make us holy people and not profane people. May our lives be grounded fully and firmly and completely and totally upon Your Word, upon Your law. Give us grace, Lord, that we may bring our lives in conformity to that Word. Give us grace to serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Profanity is primarily a life, not just language

Summary: The central thesis is that profanity is not limited to foul words but is fundamentally a way of living that denies God's sovereignty and disregards His commands.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'One can be profane and never curse. One can be profane and never ever use God's name with an epithet. One can be profane and never ever use a slang term.'

Taking God's name in vain means bearing it falsely by disobedience

Summary: The third commandment is interpreted as forbidding an empty profession of God when one's life contradicts that profession, thus profaning His name.

Evidence: He explains, 'To take God's name in vain is to deny in reality that He is the one true and the living God. It is an empty profession of God when our lives... are totally and absolutely alienated from God.'

Walking worthy is the positive counterpart to the third commandment

Summary: The New Testament calls believers to walk worthy of their calling, which means living in obedience and not like the world, thus carrying God's name in truth.

Evidence: Weaver cites Ephesians 4:1, Colossians 1:10, and 1 Thessalonians 2:12 to show that walking worthy is the opposite of taking God's name in vain.

Biblical examples of profanity involve idolatry and disobedience, not language

Summary: Old Testament instances of profaning God's name are linked to child sacrifice to Molech, false swearing, and unholy priestly conduct, none of which involve cursing.

Evidence: In Leviticus 18:21, God says allowing children to pass through fire to Molech profanes His name; in 1 Samuel 2, the sons of Eli profaned God by their greedy and immoral actions.

Esau as the archetype of a profane person

Summary: Esau is labeled a profane person in Hebrews 12:16 because he despised his birthright and spiritual blessings, not because of his speech.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'What made Esau a profane person was he despised spiritual things. He despised God and his worship and his service.'

The etymology of 'profane' means 'outside the temple'

Summary: The word derives from Latin 'pro' (toward) and 'fanum' (temple), indicating a life lived outside God's presence and authority.

Evidence: He explains, 'A profane person then is someone that is facing to or toward the temple, but... he is outside of the temple. So a profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word.'

Preachers who omit parts of God's Word preach profanity

Summary: When preachers fail to declare the whole counsel of God and apply it to all of life, they are guilty of preaching profanity by treating God's Word as less than fully authoritative.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God, when they do not apply the word of God to every area and every sphere of life, they are preaching profanity.'

Relativism is refuted by the distinction between holy and profane

Summary: God commands a clear distinction between holy and unholy, clean and unclean; refusing to make that distinction is itself profanity, as seen in Ezekiel 22:26.

Evidence: He says, 'There is no such thing, folks, as a common ground or common gray. There are absolutes. There is a right and there is a wrong.'

Key Arguments

Profanity is not limited to words

Summary: Weaver argues that the common understanding of profanity as only foul language is too narrow; the Bible defines profanity primarily as a life that denies God's authority.

Evidence: He says, 'When you and I limit profanity to words or expressions, then it frees us to live a profane life and never be troubled about it.'

The third commandment forbids false profession, not just verbal misuse

Summary: Taking God's name in vain means professing to know God while living in disobedience, thus carrying His name emptily.

Evidence: He cites Titus 1:16: 'They profess that they know God. But in works, they deny Him.'

Swearing by God's name biblically means acknowledging His sovereignty

Summary: In Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20, swearing by God's name is a positive act of confessing Him as the only true God, not a casual oath.

Evidence: He explains, 'To swear by the name of the Lord is to say you are the one true and the living God. There are no other gods. We are going to be your people.'

Old Testament priests profaned God by unholy living, not by language

Summary: The sons of Eli and other priests profaned God's name through greed, immorality, and failure to honor Him, demonstrating that profanity is about conduct.

Evidence: In 1 Samuel 2, Hophni and Phinehas stole offerings and committed fornication; God said they 'despised me' and were slain.

Esau's profanity was despising spiritual things

Summary: Esau is the biblical model of a profane person because he sold his birthright for a meal, showing contempt for God's promises and parental authority.

Evidence: Weaver notes, 'He purposely and deliberately went out and married someone that he knew that would be dishonoring to his father and mother, and he did it out of pure spite.'

The word 'profane' means 'outside the temple'

Summary: Etymologically, profane refers to being outside the sacred precincts, symbolizing a life lived apart from God's rule.

Evidence: He states, 'A profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word.'

Failing to distinguish holy from profane profanes God

Summary: Ezekiel 22:26 shows that when leaders blur the line between holy and unholy, they profane God's name by treating Him as common.

Evidence: God says, 'Her priests have violated my law and have profaned my holy things... and I am profaned among them.'

Preaching profanity is omitting parts of God's Word

Summary: Preachers who do not teach the whole counsel of God and apply it to all areas of life are guilty of profaning God's name by making His Word seem partial or irrelevant.

Evidence: He asserts, 'When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God... they are preaching profanity.'

Scripture References

Exodus 20:7

Context: The third commandment, the foundational text for the sermon, forbidding taking God's name in vain.

Ephesians 4:29

Context: Command to let no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth, cited as a negative command regarding speech.

Colossians 4:6

Context: Positive command to let speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.

Titus 1:16

Context: They profess to know God but deny Him by works, illustrating taking God's name in vain.

Ephesians 4:1

Context: Paul beseeches believers to walk worthy of their calling, the positive side of the third commandment.

Ephesians 4:17

Context: Command not to walk as other Gentiles in the vanity of their mind, contrasting worthy walk.

Colossians 1:10

Context: Walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful and increasing in knowledge of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:12

Context: Walking worthy of God who calls us into His kingdom and glory.

Leviticus 18:21

Context: First occurrence of 'profane' in the Bible; forbidding child sacrifice to Molech as profaning God's name.

Leviticus 19:12

Context: Swearing falsely by God's name profanes His name; connected to not stealing or dealing falsely.

Deuteronomy 6:13

Context: Positive command to fear the Lord, serve Him, and swear by His name.

Deuteronomy 10:20

Context: Command to fear, serve, cleave to, and swear by God's name; He is our praise.

Isaiah 48:1

Context: Israel swears by the Lord but not in truth or righteousness, condemned as false swearing.

Jeremiah 7:9-11

Context: People steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, and then stand in the temple claiming deliverance; God condemns this as making His house a den of robbers.

Leviticus 21:6

Context: Priests must be holy and not profane God's name, for they offer the offerings of the Lord.

Leviticus 22:31-32

Context: Keeping God's commandments prevents profaning His holy name; He will be hallowed among Israel.

1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 27-30

Context: The sons of Eli were profane; they stole offerings and committed fornication, despising God and causing others to abhor the offering.

Hebrews 12:16

Context: Esau is called a profane person for selling his birthright for one morsel of meat.

Genesis 25:31-34

Context: Esau despised his birthright, selling it for bread and pottage, showing his profane character.

Ezekiel 22:26

Context: Priests profane God by not distinguishing between holy and profane, clean and unclean, and hiding their eyes from Sabbaths.

Historical References

General George Washington's order against profanity in the Continental Army

Context: Weaver quotes Washington's order lamenting the rise of profane cursing and swearing in the army and urging officers to check it by example.

Duke of Wellington and the Indian coin 'dam'

Context: The expression 'not worth a damn' is traced to the Duke of Wellington's time in India, where a 'dam' was a coin of least value, making it an economic phrase.

Tinker's dam in England

Context: Another origin of 'not worth a damn' from tinkers who used a clay dam to temporarily fix pots, which would fail when heated, indicating worthlessness.

Continental dollar

Context: Weaver mentions the phrase 'not worth a continental' referring to the devalued continental dollar, paralleling the economic origin of 'not worth a damn.'

Important Quotes

When you and I limit profanity to words or expressions, then it frees us to live a profane life and never be troubled about it.

Significance: This quote encapsulates the central argument that a narrow definition of profanity allows people to ignore the profanity of their lives.

One can be profane and never curse. One can be profane and never ever use God's name with an epithet. One can be profane and never ever use a slang term.

Significance: It clearly states the thesis that profanity is not limited to language but is a condition of life.

To take God's name in vain is to deny in reality that He is the one true and the living God.

Significance: This defines the third commandment in terms of practical atheism, not just verbal misuse.

What made Esau a profane person was he despised spiritual things. He despised God and his worship and his service.

Significance: It identifies the essence of profanity as despising God and spiritual realities, not using bad language.

A profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word.

Significance: This etymological explanation reinforces the idea that profanity is living apart from divine authority.

When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God, when they do not apply the word of God to every area and every sphere of life, they are preaching profanity.

Significance: It applies the concept of profanity to the pulpit, condemning selective preaching as a form of profaning God's name.

There is no such thing, folks, as a common ground or common gray. There are absolutes. There is a right and there is a wrong.

Significance: This quote rejects relativism and affirms the biblical distinction between holy and profane as absolute.

Profanity is not just language, it's a life.

Significance: A succinct summary of the entire message, emphasizing that profanity is fundamentally about how one lives.

Discussion Questions

How does limiting profanity to foul language allow Christians to live profane lives without conviction?

Context: Weaver argues that a narrow definition of profanity frees us to live disobediently while feeling righteous about our speech.

In what ways might we be taking God's name in vain through our actions rather than our words?

Context: The sermon defines taking God's name in vain as an empty profession when our lives deny His sovereignty.

What does it mean to 'walk worthy' of our calling, and how does that contrast with profanity?

Context: Weaver presents walking worthy as the positive command that opposes taking God's name in vain, involving obedience and distinct living.

How does the example of Esau challenge our understanding of what it means to be a profane person?

Context: Esau is called profane for despising his birthright, not for his language, showing that profanity is about valuing spiritual things.

What are some areas of life where we might be living 'outside the temple' and thus profaning God's name?

Context: The etymology of 'profane' as 'outside the temple' suggests any area of life not submitted to God's Word is profane.

How can preachers and teachers avoid the error of 'preaching profanity' by omitting parts of God's counsel?

Context: Weaver warns that failing to declare the whole counsel of God is a form of profanity in the pulpit.

Why is relativism incompatible with the biblical command to distinguish between holy and profane?

Context: Ezekiel 22:26 condemns those who blur the line between holy and unholy, and Weaver applies this to modern relativism.

What practical steps can we take to ensure we are carrying God's name in truth rather than in vain?

Context: The sermon calls for grounding our lives fully on God's Word and obeying His commands as the way to honor His name.

Applications

Examine your life for profanity beyond your words

Summary: Weaver urges listeners to recognize that profanity is primarily a matter of how we live, not just what we say, and to evaluate whether their lives honor God's authority.

Evidence: He states, 'When you and I limit profanity to words or expressions, then it frees us to live a profane life and never be troubled about it.'

Walk worthy of your Christian calling

Summary: Believers are called to live in a manner that matches their profession, obeying God's commands and not conforming to the world, thus carrying God's name in truth.

Evidence: He cites Ephesians 4:1 and Colossians 1:10 to show that walking worthy is the positive command that fulfills the third commandment.

Preach and teach the whole counsel of God

Summary: Preachers must declare all of God's Word and apply it to every area of life, avoiding the error of selective teaching that profanes God's name.

Evidence: He says, 'When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God... they are preaching profanity.'

Reject relativism and uphold biblical absolutes

Summary: Christians must maintain the clear distinction between holy and unholy, clean and unclean, refusing to blur moral lines as the world does.

Evidence: He asserts, 'There is no such thing... as a common ground or common gray. There are absolutes.'

Ground your life fully on God's Word

Summary: To avoid profanity, believers must base their actions, attitudes, and decisions entirely on Scripture, acknowledging God's sovereignty in all things.

Evidence: He says, 'To take the name of the Lord in truth means that we ground our lives, our actions, and our attitudes firmly and fully upon him and his word.'

Honor God by obeying His commandments

Summary: Obedience to God's law is the way to hallow His name, while disobedience profanes it; believers are called to keep His commandments.

Evidence: He explains from Leviticus 22:31-32 that keeping God's commandments prevents profaning His name.

Do not despise spiritual things like Esau

Summary: Esau's example warns against valuing temporary, worldly things over spiritual blessings and God's promises, which is the essence of profanity.

Evidence: He says, 'What made Esau a profane person was he despised spiritual things.'

Live inside the temple, not outside

Summary: The imagery of being outside the temple calls believers to live within the sphere of God's authority, not as autonomous individuals ignoring His Word.

Evidence: He states, 'A profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:07:22Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:18:08Z

Clean Transcript

Preaching Profanity

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Well, let's see, if you'll open your Bibles today to Exodus chapter 20. Exodus chapter 20. Exodus 20 and verse 7. The Lord willing, after next week I'm going to be beginning the series on how God destroys nations. But today I'm going to bring a message which I have entitled, "Preaching Profanity." Listen carefully, preaching profanity. And I think you'll understand before I finish. Look in Exodus chapter 20 in verse 7.
#1 | 0:00 to 0:40 | cleaned
And here, of course, we find the third commandment. "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." Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. So the message is entitled, "Preaching Profanity." Everyone knows what profanity is, right? Well, if you really don't know what profanity is, all you have to do is go into some of these special meeting places, and I'm using quotations there, I could just say pool halls, and they'll usually have a sign up there saying, "No Profanity Allowed."
#2 | 0:40 to 1:23 | cleaned
Now, interpreted, that just simply means this: no cussing, no dirty or foul language. And, of course, sometimes we even include what we know as slang language as profanity. Every one of us have, from time to time in our life, heard and been exposed to bad and foul language. And not just from sailors, that's where we get the expression to cuss like a sailor. We also hear foul language from French folks because Americans always say, "Pardon my French," you know, when they say something like that. But we hear foul language from every strata of society. It used to be where a gentleman, and of course it's still true, a real gentleman would not, but it used to be where a gentleman would never ever use any type of bad or foul language around a lady. Today, of course, men do so, and unhappily, sometimes women can curse worse than the men. They can hold their own with the best of them, or should I say the worst of them. And the amazing thing today is this: even small children can use horrible, horrible language.
#3 | 1:24 to 2:41 | cleaned
I remember as far back as probably 25 or 30 years ago, I was in a home with Brother Melvin Stringer. And here's a little three or four year old boy came up and he cursed Brother Stringer with a—my mouth fell open. I couldn't believe it. And I looked at Brother Stringer and I said, "Did you hear what that kid said?" He said, "Yeah, I heard him." And of course, he wasn't our child or anywhere near it, but I made a statement to his grandmama that, "Did you hear what this child said?" And she just kind of laughed, and she said, "Yeah, isn't it cute?" I said, "No, ma'am, it's not cute." But here, we hear that all the time.
#4 | 2:41 to 3:23 | cleaned
You see, the problem is this, and profanity or bad or foul language has been problematic down through the years. I want you to listen to an order that was issued and signed by General George Washington. Here's what he said: "The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing, a vice hitherto little known in our American Army, is growing into fashion. He hopes that the officers will, by example as well as influence, endeavor to check it and that both they and the men will reflect that we can little hope of the blessing of heaven on our army if we insult it by our impiety and folly. Added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it." Signed George Washington. So George Washington said, up until that point, cursing had been relatively unknown in the American army. But now, he said, it's a growing vice, and I'm calling on all the officers to check it right now.
#5 | 3:24 to 4:38 | cleaned
When it comes to our language, Scripture is exceedingly clear when it says in Ephesians 4 and verse 29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth." He said, "But rather that which is good, that it may minister grace to the ears." So he said, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. Now, the positive side is found in Colossians 4 and verse 6, where God says, "Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer every man." So on the one hand, He says, negatively, let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. And on the other hand, positively, He says, let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt. Now, certainly all of us should always be concerned with our language, just like the Bible says to give no appearance of evil. Likewise, we should give no sound of evil as well.
#6 | 4:39 to 5:34 | cleaned
But most of us are totally lost when the subject of profanity arrives. Because we normally think of profanity only as cursing or using God's name with other slang words. Most of us have never, ever really understood the implications nor the extent of profanity.
#7 | 5:35 to 6:00 | cleaned
Now listen to me carefully, because I'm going to prove this point before I close today. When you and I limit profanity to words or expressions, then it frees us to live a profane life and never be troubled about it. Do you realize that there are a number of preachers in this country that preach profanity and they never realize it?
#8 | 6:00 to 6:33 | cleaned
Now, I'm going to give you an illustration this morning that I'm sure sooner or later, I'm going to be called to task by someone for using this illustration. But that's all right. I'm using this illustration to prove a point. So here it is. Listen carefully. Many times you will hear men, and unhappily, Southern men, will use the expression, they'll say, "It's not worth a damn." Or "I don't care a damn." Now, for the record, I do not use that expression even though it is not profanity. You say, "How can it not be profanity?" Well, originally that expression, "It's not worth a damn," or "I don't care a damn," was an expression of economics. It was an economic expression. The phrase, "It's not worth a damn," was literally brought into our language from two specific sources.
#9 | 6:35 to 7:36 | cleaned
First of all, it came from England because there you had all your pots and kettles and you had tinkers who went around mending these pots and kettles and many times these unscrupulous tinkers would take a pot that had a crack in it and they would get clay and make a small dam and cover the crack in the pot. And then they would take a small thin layer of molten metal and put over the clay.
#10 | 7:37 to 8:06 | cleaned
Well, it certainly stopped the leak in the vessel until the vessel was heated. Then the clay dried out and the clay cracked and so did the thin layer of metal. And consequently, people began to say, "It's not worth a tinker's dam." Dropping the tinker, "It's not worth a dam." In other words, it was either expressive of the tinker doing a poor job, or the vessel was absolutely worthless, it could not be fixed, it's not worth a damn. In other words, damming it would do no good, it would still continue to leak.
#11 | 8:07 to 8:38 | cleaned
That is one source of that expression. But the second source, and the main one, is that expression came to us from the Duke of Wellington when he was in England—not in England, but in India. Because in India, the coin of least value was called a dam. So when they said "It's not worth a damn," it was an economic expression saying equivalent to "It's not worth a cent, it's not worth a penny." We had another expression in this country, "It's not worth a continental," referring to the continental dollar because of inflation. So originally that expression then certainly had nothing to do with profanity, it had nothing to do with cursing, it had nothing to do with being a slang, it was just simply an economic expression. And even today when you hear men say, "I don't care a damn," what they literally mean by that is just simply, "I don't care. I mean, it's not worth even thinking about." It is still basically an economic expression.
#12 | 8:39 to 9:43 | cleaned
In other words, I'm not going to waste my time hearing about that. Now, the reason I use this illustration is not to encourage anyone to use that term or to use that expression. But I use this illustration to show you that what we normally think of profanity is not necessarily always profanity. Listen carefully. One can be profane and never curse. One can be profane and never ever use God's name with an epithet. One can be profane and never ever use a slang term.
#13 | 9:43 to 10:18 | cleaned
Profanity is far more than vulgar or vile language. It is absolutely possible to be profane and never ever use foul language. In fact, the truth of the matter is this. Most preachers who preach profanity are usually very nice, congenial, and likable men. Most Christians who live profanity are usually very likable people. So it's very easy then to be profane without using foul language. Let me give you what the American Heritage Dictionary describes as profanity. Listen carefully, because although I certainly do not rely upon a dictionary definition when it comes to teaching the truth of God, it just so happens in this instance the dictionary has a biblical truth behind it. So here's what the American Heritage Dictionary defines as profanity. Quote, "The condition or quality of being profane and abusive, vulgar, and irreverent language." Now when you and I talk about profanity, we normally think of abusive, vulgar, and irreverent language.
#14 | 10:23 to 11:42 | cleaned
We've got that part down. We understand that. But what we don't understand is the first part, and that is the condition or the quality of being profane. So you can then be profane without ever having vulgar language. Being profane and taking the Lord's name in vain are intimately connected and so much so that basically they are interchangeable terms. You could say "Thou shalt not profane the name of the Lord" just as easily as "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." Now, what in the world does it mean when God said "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"? Well, to take God's name in vain is to deny in reality that He is the one true and the living God.
#15 | 11:42 to 12:30 | cleaned
It is an empty profession of God when our lives, when our attitudes and our actions and oftentimes our thoughts are totally and absolutely alienated from God and blasphemously ascribed to ourselves. Let me give you a good illustration of taking God's name in vain. In Titus 1 verse 16, the Bible says, "They profess that they know God. But in works, they deny Him." What is profanity? It is taking, carrying God's name in vain. They profess that they know God. In other words, here is one thing with their mouth, but in their actions, in their works, they literally deny God. So in essence then, when the life does not match up with the confession, it is a profanation of the name of God. It is carrying the name of God in vain.
#16 | 12:31 to 13:34 | cleaned
Now the Hebrew word for vain is the word Shav, which is in the sense of desolating, and literally it means to carry something falsely, emptily, and worthlessly. Now the word take, God says "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." The word take means to take away or to carry off, or to bear. So what in the world is the third commandment? The third commandment is basically you shall not bear the name of God emptily, falsely, or in a worthless manner.
#17 | 13:35 to 14:18 | cleaned
Now please listen to me. You've heard me say this before, that every negative has a positive. And when God says "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," that is the negative. Let me ask that you turn in your Bibles to, first of all, to Ephesians 4. And let me show you the positive of the third commandment in the New Testament. Notice, if you would, Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 1 to begin with. Ephesians 4, verse 1. Look what the Apostle Paul says. Ephesians 4 verse 1, "I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called." Now listen to what he says. "I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling wherewith you are called." Your vocation deals with your calling. So he says you are to walk worthy. We are called being a Christian. So he says, I'm beseeching you, I'm begging you that you walk worthy of being called a Christian.
#18 | 14:18 to 15:29 | cleaned
Look at verse 17. Here, once again, is the opposite of that. He says this, "I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind." Now, how do you walk worthily? First of all, you do not walk according to the way the ungodly walk. You don't walk according to the way the heathen walk. So when you walk worthily, then you are walking differently from the world. You're walking differently from the ungodly. Look in your Bibles to the book of Colossians chapter 1.
#19 | 15:29 to 16:03 | cleaned
Just trying to show you the positive side of the third commandment. Colossians 1 in verse 10. Here's another verse that is the positive side of the third commandment. "That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
#20 | 16:03 to 16:25 | cleaned
Now I want you to watch carefully. In Ephesians chapter 1, walking worthy was walking differently. That is not acting like the heathen.
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Now when you come to Colossians 1 and verse 10, walking worthy is walking pleasingly unto the Lord, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. So walking worthily then here means that we're adding to as well as obeying. Then if you look in 1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 12. 1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 12. Here it is just stated very simply. Because here the Apostle Paul says "that you would walk worthy of God who has called you into his kingdom and glory." So the opposite of "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" is walking worthily and carrying the name of God with us fully and worthily and in obedience.
#22 | 16:35 to 17:33 | cleaned
Now, the very first instance of the word profane as it occurs in the Bible is found in the book of Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21. So I want you to go there because I'm trying to show you today the importance and the impact as well as the implications of profanity. Look in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21. Here's the very first occurrence of the word profane in the Bible. And I want you to understand that when you see this it has nothing to do with language. In Leviticus chapter 18 and verse 21 God says this, "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass to the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord." Now, of course, Molech was a false god. He was worshipped in the Valley of the Sons of Hinnom, and not only did they literally sacrifice children to the god Molech, they also had a purification rite for those who were not literally killed, where they would be passed through the fire, so to speak, and just simply dedicated to the worship and
#23 | 17:33 to 18:55 | cleaned
service of Molech. Now, notice what God says in this sentence. He says, "Thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech. Neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God, I am the Lord." Now, what is God saying? God says if you allow your children to pass through the fire, or if you allow your children to be sacrificed or either sanctified to Molech, you're profaning the name of the Lord. Why? Because God says, "I am the one true and the living God. I'm the one that lays down the law. I'm the one that tells you how to live. I'm the one that governs your life. And when you turn from me, having professed to be my people, and now you are worshiping a false God, you are profaning my name. You are denying my sovereignty, and you're denying that I am the one and only true God." So what God is saying here is, first of all, profanity, while it has nothing to do with the language here, it does indeed have to do with our lives, how we live, how we act, how we think.
#24 | 18:55 to 20:08 | cleaned
Now look in Leviticus chapter 19 in verse 12. Here's the second instance of the word profane. Leviticus 19 verse 12, the word of God says, "And you shall not swear by my name falsely. Neither lie one to another." Now look what God says. "You shall not steal." That's verse 11. "You shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another, and you shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God. I am the Lord." Now, he said, "You shall not swear by my name falsely." Now, when you swear by God's name falsely, then you are profaning the name of God. Now, listen carefully.
#25 | 20:09 to 20:58 | cleaned
What many people do not understand is that swearing and worship are intimately connected. There is a biblical form of swearing. Yes, it is true. When our Lord says in the New Testament, "Swear not at all, let your yea be yea and your nay be nay," He's not talking about a biblical swearing. He's talking about a false swearing and humanistic swearing. Yes, our words should be yea and nay, because as he said, we can't make one hair black and we can't do one thing. So our words should be yea and our words should be nay. But I'm going to show you there is such a thing as a biblical swearing. For he says here, "Thou shalt not swear by God's name falsely." And when you swear by his name falsely, what you're doing is profaning the name of the Lord.
#26 | 20:59 to 21:53 | cleaned
Now look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 6 and verse 13. Deuteronomy 6 verse 13. Here is a positive of that statement, Deuteronomy 6 verse 13. Look what he says. Deuteronomy 6 verse 13, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name." Now, what is it when we swear by his name? Look in verse 14, "You shall not go after other gods or the gods of the people which are round about. For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you, lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee and destroy thee from off the face of the earth." What does it mean to swear by the name of the Lord? To swear by the name of the Lord is to say you are the one true and the living God. There are no other gods. We are going to be your people. We are going to obey you. Look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20. You'll see it again. Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20.
#27 | 21:54 to 23:07 | cleaned
Look what God says, "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God. And him shalt thou serve. And to him shalt thou cleave and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things which thine eyes have seen." So what is it when we swear by the name of God? It's not just going around using the term, "Well, I swear."
#28 | 23:07 to 23:36 | cleaned
No, no, no, that's not it. Swearing by the name of God is when we say, "We agree. We confess. We acknowledge that he is the one true and the living God. And besides him, there is none other. And we are going to be his people." Therefore, he said that we give him the praise. We give him the honor. We give him the glory. So once again, he tells us that we are to swear by his name.
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Now, if you look back in your Bibles to Leviticus chapter 19 and verse 12, you ought to be able to understand that verse in light of Deuteronomy 6:13 and Deuteronomy 10 and verse 20, where he said, "And you shall not swear by my name falsely. You shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God, I am the Lord." So when you swear falsely, what are you doing? You're profaning the name of God.
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I'm going to spell it out a little more plainly, I hope, in just a few moments, but let me put it like this. When we say that God is the one true and the living God, and that He is sovereign, and that He rules over all, and then we turn around and act as if there was no God, or that God had not spoken, or that God has no influence in our lives, we are profaning the name of the Lord. We are in essence carrying His name in vain.
#31 | 24:37 to 25:12 | cleaned
Now, I want you to look in Isaiah 48. Because God explicitly condemns this false swearing. Look in Isaiah chapter 48 and verse 1. I hope you're beginning to see why I say that you can be profane and never curse. Look in Isaiah 48 and verse 1. Notice what God says. "Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, not in righteousness. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel, the Lord of hosts is his name."
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In other words, what are they doing? They're saying, "He is the one true and the living God. We swear by Him. He is all there is." And what does God say? "Yes, you're swearing by my name, but you're not doing it in truth, nor are you doing it in righteousness." In other words, your life does not back up your confession of faith. You're swearing falsely.
#33 | 26:09 to 26:34 | cleaned
Now, turn in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 7. Jeremiah 7. And let's begin reading there with verse 9. Let me show you what it means to swear by the name of God falsely. Israel was to be God's peculiar treasure. God was to be their God. God had given them His law. He says this is the way you are to live. Now watch Jeremiah 7 beginning there with verse 9. Remember, he's speaking now to God's people. He says, "Will you steal, murder and commit adultery and swear falsely and burn incense in the veil and walk after other gods whom you know not and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name and say, 'We're delivered to do all these abominations.' Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?
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Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. But go ye now to the place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because you have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but you heard not, and I called you, but you answered not, therefore will I do unto this house which is called by my name, wherein you trust, and of the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh."
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Now go back up and look at verse 9. Look what God says. "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense in the veil, and walk after other gods whom you know not, and come and stand before me in this house," that is, this temple, "which is called by my name, and say, 'We're delivered to all these abominations.'" You know what preachers preach. You know what Christians believe? They preach and teach and believe that once you trust Christ, you can just live any way you want to live. You can do whatever you want to do.
#36 | 28:13 to 28:51 | cleaned
After all, you're under grace. Now let me tell you something, folks. I certainly believe that we're saved by grace through faith alone. But the truth of the matter is this, the grace that saves you and the faith that saves you makes you bow to the sovereign God of the universe. And our Lord said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." Those who have been genuinely and truly saved are not going to be running around stealing, killing, murdering and worshiping false gods.
#37 | 28:52 to 29:28 | cleaned
You see, what is happening is we've been preaching profanity in this country for a long time. People have been believing and living profanity for a long time. God says, "How dare you? Come and stand before me and say we're delivered to do all these abominations." No, you weren't delivered for that at all.
#38 | 29:30 to 29:51 | cleaned
Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to the book of Leviticus chapter 21. I want you to note that the priests once again were called to be holy unto the Lord. All I'm trying to show you right now is this. Profanity originally had nothing to do with language. Now, it is true that we may be profane in our language. But most people limit profanity to just language, and they live profane lives. In Leviticus chapter 21, verse 6, notice what God says concerning the priests. "They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God. For the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and the bread of their God they do offer, therefore shall they be holy." Note what he said, "They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God." Now being profane in this instance had nothing to do with language. It had nothing to do with words.
#39 | 29:51 to 31:04 | cleaned
It did have to do, however, with actions and with attitude and with worship. If the priest, therefore, lived unholy lives, they were profaning the name of God. If the priest did not worship correctly, they were profaning the name of God. If the priest allowed that which was unholy, they were profaning the name of God. God demanded holiness.
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Now look at Leviticus 22 and verse 32. Look what he says. Leviticus 22 and verse 32. "Neither shall you profane my holy name. But I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord which hallowed you." By the way, let's go back to verse 31. Look at verse 31. "Therefore shall you keep my commandments and do them. I am the Lord. Neither shall you profane my holy name." In the context, how do we profane God's name? By not keeping his commandments. Do you see that? By not keeping his commandments. God said, "I want to be hallowed among you."
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And I'm going to hallow you. And I hallow you when you obey my commandments. Instead of hallowing God's name by obeying him, we profane his name by disobeying him.
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Now, God was calling the priests especially to be holy. Because they dealt with holy things.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Samuel chapter 2. And by the way, when I say that, I hope everyone in here understands that our Lord has made us kings and priests under our God. That is correct. Look in 1 Samuel chapter 2. And let me show you some priests who were unholy. Now, God has been demanding holiness in the lives of those who are about him. So, in 1 Samuel chapter 2, beginning there with verse 12, the Bible says, "Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial." That is, they were sons of the devil. They knew not the Lord.
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And we're talking about Hophni and Phinehas. "And the priest's custom was, with the people, that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servants came, while the flesh was in seething, and with a flesh hook of three teeth in his hand he struck it into the pan, or into the kettle, or the cauldron, or pot, and all that the flesh hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. And before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came and said to the man that sacrificed, 'Give flesh to roast for the priest, for he will not have sodden flesh, but raw.' And if any man said unto him, 'Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, then take as much as thy soul desired.' Then he would answer him, 'Nay, but thou shalt give it me now. If not, I will take it by force.'
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Wherefore, the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. Now, let me ask you a question just based upon that reading. Were these individuals holy men? What were they doing? They were stealing and they weren't satisfied with what God gave them. They were demanding their meat so they could grill it, so to speak, or barbecue it.
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They didn't want it after it was sodden. They wanted it raw. And they made people despise the offerings of God.
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Now skip down to verse 22. "Now Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did in all Israel, and how they laid with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said to them, 'Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all those people. Nay, my sons, for it is no good report that I hear you make the Lord's people to transgress.'
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If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearken not to the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them." Noting he would, now they've gone to pure out-and-out fornication.
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Now skip down to verse 27. "And there came a man of God, and said unto Eli, 'Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house? And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel, to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? And I did give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel. Now look, wherefore kick you at my sacrifice and mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of the offerings of Israel my people. Wherefore the Lord God of Israel said, I said indeed that thy house and the house of thy father should walk before me forever. But now the Lord said, be it far from me, for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'
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And you know what God did? God told Eli, "Both your sons are going to die in one day." And that's exactly what God did. God killed Hophni and Phinehas in one day. Why? Because they were profane. It's not that they were using foul, filthy language. It's they were living unholy and ungodly lives. They were not concerned with the real, genuine worship of God. They were not concerned with honoring God and pleasing Him. No, they were concerned with their lives only.
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Let me ask you a question. How many church members and how many Christians that you know are really, genuinely concerned with obeying God and honoring Him in all things? You see what I'm saying? The average professing Christian is eat up with selfishness. And he's only concerned about himself. He's not really concerned about God at all. Being profane in the Bible dealt first and foremost with our lives, not our language.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 12. I suppose this is the classic passage, Hebrews chapter 12, on profanity. Hebrews chapter 12, and let's read verse 16. Hebrews 12, verse 16. Look what God says. "Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." Now this is a very simple verse. Look at it again. "...lest there be any fornicator, or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." Now I want you to note that Esau is called a profane person.
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The Bible doesn't say anything about him using foul or filthy language. He may have, I don't know. But the Bible doesn't say that. The Bible doesn't say he was profane in his language. The Bible says he was a profane person.
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Now ask yourself this question. What made Esau a profane person? Go back in your Bibles to Genesis 25 and you know the answer. What made Esau a profane person was he despised spiritual things. He despised God and his worship and his service. In Genesis chapter 25 beginning there with verse 32. After Jacob says in verse 31 to Esau, "Sell me this day thy birthright." And Esau said, "Behold, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright do to me?" Well, Esau was not really starving to death, and you will see in a moment. And Jacob said, "Swear to me this day," and he sweared to him, and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils, and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." Now, if Esau had been at the point of death, he would not have rose up and gone his way after he ate and drank. No, it was not that he was starving to death.
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It was not that he was perishing. He just despised that birthright. Do you know what the birthright included? The birthright included, first and foremost, not only being patriarch of the family, that is, the head of the family, it also, secondly, implied receiving a double portion of inheritance so that he would have the responsibility of taking care of his parents when they were elderly. But it also, thirdly, included the line of the Messiah.
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And what did he do? He despised it. "I'm not interested in that." And he sold it for a mess of pottage.
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Now, let me show you how profane he was. He not only despised God, and the blessings of the service of God, he also despises parents. You see, the fifth commandment is honored by a father and by a mother. Well, look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 28. You remember how Isaac told Jacob that he was not to take a wife out of the land, but he was to go back to Padan-aram to get him a wife. And look what happens in Genesis 28 and verse 6. "When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Padan-aram to take him away from this, and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge saying, 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan,' and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and was going to Padan-aram. And he saw seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father. Then when he saw into Ishmael and took unto the wives which he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, and the sister of Nebajoth to be his wife."
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Now what did he do? When he saw that Jacob obeyed his mother and dad, and when he saw that he did not please his parents for Jacob to have a wife of the children of the land, what did he do? He purposely and deliberately went out and married someone that he knew that would be dishonoring to his father and mother, and he did it out of pure spite.
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One can be profane and never curse. All one has to do to be a profane person is to live his life as if God did not exist, or that God had not spoken, that God's law, that God's word has no influence and no impact upon our lives. You just live a life that ignores, forgets, overlooks, and despises that which is right and holy, and you are a profane person. Now, let me tell you what the word profane in our language literally means. Our English word profane is derived from the Latin. It is made up of two words, pro, which is a preposition which means to or toward, and fanum, which is temple. So a profane person then is someone that is facing to or toward the temple, but I want you to note that he is outside of the temple. So a profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word. He is on the outside. In other words, a profane person is someone who doesn't give a hoot what God says.
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Could care less about the Bible. Could care less about preaching and teaching. Could care less about pleasing God. Esau could care less about pleasing God. He could care less about pleasing his parents. He was a profane person. So, someone who is profane, then, is outside of the temple.
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Now, what they're saying is, "I don't recognize God. I don't honor God. I live my life the way I want to live my life." I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 24. Acts 24. Acts 24 and look at verse 6. Because the Apostle Paul was charged with profanity. Look at Acts 24 and verse 6. The Bible says, "...who also have gone about to profane the temple whom we took and would have judged according to our law." They said the Apostle Paul was going about to profane the temple.
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Now, of course, he was not doing any such thing. They only thought that he was, and they took him and would have killed him, until the Roman captain saved his life and now of course he is appearing before the king.
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Now I want you to look back in your Bibles to Acts chapter 21 and here's what they thought was going to happen when the Apostle Paul was supposedly profaning the temple. Acts chapter 21 beginning there with verse 28. The Jews were crying out, "Men of Israel help! This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place, and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus, an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple." Well, of course, Paul had not brought him into the temple, but they just simply suppose that. Now the interesting thing is this. When they accused the Apostle Paul of profaning the temple in Acts 24 and verse 6.
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The Greek word for profane is bebēloō. It literally means to profane or to desecrate. And it is made up of two words. First of all, basis, which means to walk, or a pace, and bēlos, which means a threshold. So to profane then literally means to walk across the threshold. Now watch this. This is a different sermon. I'm not going to preach on this right now. But they thought that the Apostle Paul had profaned the temple by walking across the threshold and bringing into the temple someone or something that should not be there.
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That would be inside profanation. That's a different sermon. But the word just simply means to walk across the threshold. You can also walk across the threshold outside of the temple. That's where we get the word, our English word, profane from, which means then to or toward the temple. So many people have crossed the threshold, so to speak. They've gone outside the temple and they live a life that says, "God has no authority over me. God has no right to tell me what to do." They are profane people.
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Look in your Bibles to the book of Ezekiel, chapter 22. Ezekiel 22. And I want you to note carefully, verse 26. Ezekiel 22 and verse 26. Look what God says. We're talking about profanity now. Ezekiel 22, verse 26. God says "Her priests have violated my law and have profaned my holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths. Now look, and I am profaned among them." Did you hear that? "I am profaned among them."
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What did the priest do? They violated God's law. They profaned His holy things. In other words, they did not make a distinction, listen carefully, between that which was holy and that which was unholy. They did not make a distinction between that which is clean and that which is unclean. And God says they have profaned my name. Now listen. In this sense of the word, the word profane could be understood as to taking something that should be highly reverenced and making it commonplace. What do men do when they use God's name in every sentence, or Jesus in every sentence, usually cursing? They're taking that which should be highly reverenced and unique and special and making it commonplace. Moreover, when you and I live our lives as if the Bible means nothing to us, and God's law has no authority over us, we are still profaning God's name. Why? Because we are treating Him as just another God. He is not the God. He is not the sovereign God of heaven and earth. He's just a God.
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We're basically bringing Him down to the level of all the false gods. Thus, we are profaning the name of God.
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Now, let me make some applications to it together. I want you to think this through with me. The title of the message was "Preaching Profanity." When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God, when they do not apply the word of God to every area and every sphere of life, they are preaching profanity. You know what God said in Deuteronomy 8 verse 3? He said "that I might make thee know that man doth not live by bread alone, listen carefully, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Did you know our Lord in Luke 4 verse 4 answered Satan and said "that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." Let me tell you, it does matter how we live. It does matter whether or not we obey the word of God. It does matter whether or not we are outside of the temple or inside of the temple. It does matter whether or not all of God's word is taught. That's why the scripture says in Proverbs 30 verse 5 every word of God is pure.
#70 | 51:51 to 53:17 | cleaned
You know, I've preached messages away. My wife can tell you because she's heard some of the comments from time to time. I've preached messages to some of these other churches and on occasion I'll have even a preacher say, but usually it's the people, "Well, I bet you don't preach this way to your own people." And I say, "Well, truthfully, I try it out on them before I ever try it out on you. You know, they get it first."
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But they cannot comprehend the fact that you would have someone who would sit there and listen to everything that the Bible taught and take it. Well, I got news for you, folks, we are bound by the word of God and when we do not apply the word of God to the totality of life, we are preaching profanity. All of God's Word is applicable. There are principles that can be drawn from every aspect of the Word of God. What has doomed and damned our nation is the preaching of profanity. We think that we can profess with the loudest voice that God is the one true and the living God, and then live any way we please.
#72 | 53:49 to 54:43 | cleaned
Secondly, I'm hitting it right now. When we endeavor to live our lives apart from God and His law word, we are living profane lives and we're taking the name of God in vain. We're denying that it is His sovereignty that undergirds reality. We deny His sovereignty that we may establish our own. We deny his law that we may establish our own. To take the name of the Lord in truth means that we ground our lives, our actions, and our attitudes firmly and fully upon him and his word. When we carry his name in truth, we are living holy, obedient lives and not profane ones.
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And the last application should be exceedingly clear. We should now be able to see the absolute error of relativism. There is no such thing, folks, as a common ground or common gray. There are absolutes. There is a right and there is a wrong. There is a difference between the holy and the unholy, the clean and the unclean. And God says that we are to establish our lives by making that distinction between the holy and the unholy and the clean and the unclean. All who refuse to make that distinction are profane.
#74 | 55:34 to 56:16 | cleaned
That's what he said in Ezekiel 22 and verse 26. "They profane my name." Why? They refuse to make the distinction between the holy and unholy and the clean and the unclean. When you live your life outside of the temple, it doesn't mean it is relativistic. It means it is wrong. Because you have crossed the threshold and you've gone apart from God's law to follow your own autonomous ways. We either obey God and carry His name in truth or we disobey him and profane his name. Profanity is not just language, it's a life. And God says, "Lest there be a profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat despised God and His Word." Let's pray. Father, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ that You would make us holy people and not profane people. May our lives be grounded fully and firmly and completely and totally upon Your Word, upon Your law. Give us grace, Lord, that we may bring our lives in conformity to that Word. Give us grace to serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
#75 | 56:18 to 58:02 | cleaned
Help us, Lord, to always honor Thee. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T19:07:22Z

Preaching Profanity

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver argues that profanity is not limited to foul language but is primarily a matter of living a life that denies God's sovereignty and disregards His Word. Using the third commandment and biblical examples, he shows that one can be profane without cursing by living as if God has no authority. He applies this to preachers who fail to teach the whole counsel of God and to Christians who profess faith but live disobediently, calling for holy lives grounded in God's law.

Introduction: The Third Commandment and Common Views of Profanity

Weaver introduces the third commandment and notes that most people limit profanity to cursing or foul language, but the biblical concept is much broader.

The Prevalence of Foul Language in Society

He describes how foul language is common across all levels of society, including children, and contrasts it with historical standards like George Washington's order against cursing in the army.

When it comes to our language, Scripture is exceedingly clear when it says in Ephesians 4 and verse 29,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:29

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth."

He said,

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:29

"But rather that which is good, that it may minister grace to the ears."

Limiting Profanity to Words Frees Us to Live Profane Lives

Weaver argues that when we restrict profanity to language, we can live profanely without conviction, and many preachers unknowingly preach profanity.

Illustration: The Expression 'Not Worth a Damn'

He uses the phrase 'not worth a damn' to show that what is often considered profanity may not be, illustrating that profanity is more than words.

The Biblical Definition of Profanity: Taking God's Name in Vain

Profanity is defined as taking God's name in vain, which means bearing His name emptily or falsely by living in a way that denies He is the true God.

The Positive Command: Walking Worthy of the Lord

The opposite of taking God's name in vain is walking worthy of the calling, which involves living differently from the world and obeying God's commands.

Old Testament Examples of Profanity Without Foul Language

Weaver examines Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and 1 Samuel to show that profanity in Scripture is about idolatry, false swearing, disobedience, and unholy living, not language.

Now look in your Bibles to Deuteronomy 6 and verse 13. Deuteronomy 6 verse 13. Here is a positive of that statement, Deuteronomy 6 verse 13. Look what he says. Deuteronomy 6 verse 13,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 6:13

"Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and shalt swear by his name."

Now, what is it when we swear by his name? Look in verse 14,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 6:13

"You shall not go after other gods or the gods of the people which are round about. For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you, lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee and destroy thee from off the face of the earth."

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 48:1

"Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, not in righteousness. For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel, the Lord of hosts is his name."

Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 7:9-11

"Will you steal, murder and commit adultery and swear falsely and burn incense in the veil and walk after other gods whom you know not and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name and say, 'We're delivered to do all these abominations.' Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?

Esau as the Classic Profane Person

Esau is called a profane person because he despised his birthright and spiritual things, not because of his language, demonstrating that profanity is a life lived outside God's authority.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 25:31-34

"Sell me this day thy birthright."

And Esau said,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 25:31-34

"Behold, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright do to me?"

Well, Esau was not really starving to death, and you will see in a moment. And Jacob said,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 25:31-34

"Swear to me this day,"

The Etymology of 'Profane': Outside the Temple

The word 'profane' comes from Latin meaning 'outside the temple,' indicating a life lived apart from God and His Word, crossing the threshold away from His authority.

Ezekiel 22: Failing to Distinguish Holy from Profane

God says He is profaned when priests fail to distinguish between holy and unholy, clean and unclean, making His name commonplace by treating Him as just another god.

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 22:26

"Her priests have violated my law and have profaned my holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths. Now look, and I am profaned among them."

Did you hear that?

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 22:26

"I am profaned among them."

We're basically bringing Him down to the level of all the false gods. Thus, we are profaning the name of God.

Applications: Preaching and Living Profanity Today

Preaching Profanity

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	42305204113
Subject	Biblical Law
Course	The Ten Commandments
Genre	Sermon
Date	2005-04-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 001: The Ten Commandments — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	76

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Third Commandment and Common Views of Profanity: Weaver introduces the third commandment and notes that most people limit profanity to cursing or foul language, but the biblical concept is much broader.
The Prevalence of Foul Language in Society: He describes how foul language is common across all levels of society, including children, and contrasts it with historical standards like George Washington's order against cursing in the army.
Limiting Profanity to Words Frees Us to Live Profane Lives: Weaver argues that when we restrict profanity to language, we can live profanely without conviction, and many preachers unknowingly preach profanity.
Illustration: The Expression 'Not Worth a Damn': He uses the phrase 'not worth a damn' to show that what is often considered profanity may not be, illustrating that profanity is more than words.
The Biblical Definition of Profanity: Taking God's Name in Vain: Profanity is defined as taking God's name in vain, which means bearing His name emptily or falsely by living in a way that denies He is the true God.
The Positive Command: Walking Worthy of the Lord: The opposite of taking God's name in vain is walking worthy of the calling, which involves living differently from the world and obeying God's commands.
Old Testament Examples of Profanity Without Foul Language: Weaver examines Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and 1 Samuel to show that profanity in Scripture is about idolatry, false swearing, disobedience, and unholy living, not language.
Esau as the Classic Profane Person: Esau is called a profane person because he despised his birthright and spiritual things, not because of his language, demonstrating that profanity is a life lived outside God's authority.
The Etymology of 'Profane': Outside the Temple: The word 'profane' comes from Latin meaning 'outside the temple,' indicating a life lived apart from God and His Word, crossing the threshold away from His authority.
Ezekiel 22: Failing to Distinguish Holy from Profane: God says He is profaned when priests fail to distinguish between holy and unholy, clean and unclean, making His name commonplace by treating Him as just another god.
Applications: Preaching and Living Profanity Today: Weaver applies the message: preachers who do not declare the whole counsel of God preach profanity; Christians who live apart from God's law live profane lives; relativism is error because there are absolutes.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Profanity is not limited to words

Weaver argues that the common understanding of profanity as only foul language is too narrow; the Bible defines profanity primarily as a life that denies God's authority.

He says, 'When you and I limit profanity to words or expressions, then it frees us to live a profane life and never be troubled about it.'

The third commandment forbids false profession, not just verbal misuse

Taking God's name in vain means professing to know God while living in disobedience, thus carrying His name emptily.

He cites Titus 1:16: 'They profess that they know God. But in works, they deny Him.'

Swearing by God's name biblically means acknowledging His sovereignty

In Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20, swearing by God's name is a positive act of confessing Him as the only true God, not a casual oath.

He explains, 'To swear by the name of the Lord is to say you are the one true and the living God. There are no other gods. We are going to be your people.'

Old Testament priests profaned God by unholy living, not by language

The sons of Eli and other priests profaned God's name through greed, immorality, and failure to honor Him, demonstrating that profanity is about conduct.

In 1 Samuel 2, Hophni and Phinehas stole offerings and committed fornication; God said they 'despised me' and were slain.

Esau's profanity was despising spiritual things

Esau is the biblical model of a profane person because he sold his birthright for a meal, showing contempt for God's promises and parental authority.

Weaver notes, 'He purposely and deliberately went out and married someone that he knew that would be dishonoring to his father and mother, and he did it out of pure spite.'

The word 'profane' means 'outside the temple'

Etymologically, profane refers to being outside the sacred precincts, symbolizing a life lived apart from God's rule.

He states, 'A profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word.'

Failing to distinguish holy from profane profanes God

Ezekiel 22:26 shows that when leaders blur the line between holy and unholy, they profane God's name by treating Him as common.

God says, 'Her priests have violated my law and have profaned my holy things... and I am profaned among them.'

Preaching profanity is omitting parts of God's Word

Preachers who do not teach the whole counsel of God and apply it to all areas of life are guilty of profaning God's name by making His Word seem partial or irrelevant.

He asserts, 'When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God... they are preaching profanity.'

Scripture References

Exodus 20:7: The third commandment, the foundational text for the sermon, forbidding taking God's name in vain.
Ephesians 4:29: Command to let no corrupt communication proceed from the mouth, cited as a negative command regarding speech.
Colossians 4:6: Positive command to let speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.
Titus 1:16: They profess to know God but deny Him by works, illustrating taking God's name in vain.
Ephesians 4:1: Paul beseeches believers to walk worthy of their calling, the positive side of the third commandment.
Ephesians 4:17: Command not to walk as other Gentiles in the vanity of their mind, contrasting worthy walk.
Colossians 1:10: Walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful and increasing in knowledge of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:12: Walking worthy of God who calls us into His kingdom and glory.
Leviticus 18:21: First occurrence of 'profane' in the Bible; forbidding child sacrifice to Molech as profaning God's name.
Leviticus 19:12: Swearing falsely by God's name profanes His name; connected to not stealing or dealing falsely.
Deuteronomy 6:13: Positive command to fear the Lord, serve Him, and swear by His name.
Deuteronomy 10:20: Command to fear, serve, cleave to, and swear by God's name; He is our praise.
Isaiah 48:1: Israel swears by the Lord but not in truth or righteousness, condemned as false swearing.
Jeremiah 7:9-11: People steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, and then stand in the temple claiming deliverance; God condemns this as making His house a den of robbers.
Leviticus 21:6: Priests must be holy and not profane God's name, for they offer the offerings of the Lord.
Leviticus 22:31-32: Keeping God's commandments prevents profaning His holy name; He will be hallowed among Israel.
1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 27-30: The sons of Eli were profane; they stole offerings and committed fornication, despising God and causing others to abhor the offering.
Hebrews 12:16: Esau is called a profane person for selling his birthright for one morsel of meat.
Genesis 25:31-34: Esau despised his birthright, selling it for bread and pottage, showing his profane character.
Ezekiel 22:26: Priests profane God by not distinguishing between holy and profane, clean and unclean, and hiding their eyes from Sabbaths.

Historical References

General George Washington's order against profanity in the Continental Army: Weaver quotes Washington's order lamenting the rise of profane cursing and swearing in the army and urging officers to check it by example.
Duke of Wellington and the Indian coin 'dam': The expression 'not worth a damn' is traced to the Duke of Wellington's time in India, where a 'dam' was a coin of least value, making it an economic phrase.
Tinker's dam in England: Another origin of 'not worth a damn' from tinkers who used a clay dam to temporarily fix pots, which would fail when heated, indicating worthlessness.
Continental dollar: Weaver mentions the phrase 'not worth a continental' referring to the devalued continental dollar, paralleling the economic origin of 'not worth a damn.'

Important Quotes

When you and I limit profanity to words or expressions, then it frees us to live a profane life and never be troubled about it.

This quote encapsulates the central argument that a narrow definition of profanity allows people to ignore the profanity of their lives.

One can be profane and never curse. One can be profane and never ever use God's name with an epithet. One can be profane and never ever use a slang term.

It clearly states the thesis that profanity is not limited to language but is a condition of life.

To take God's name in vain is to deny in reality that He is the one true and the living God.

This defines the third commandment in terms of practical atheism, not just verbal misuse.

What made Esau a profane person was he despised spiritual things. He despised God and his worship and his service.

It identifies the essence of profanity as despising God and spiritual realities, not using bad language.

A profane person then is someone who endeavors to live his life outside of God and outside of God's Word.

This etymological explanation reinforces the idea that profanity is living apart from divine authority.

When preachers do not declare the whole counsel of God, when they do not apply the word of God to every area and every sphere of life, they are preaching profanity.

It applies the concept of profanity to the pulpit, condemning selective preaching as a form of profaning God's name.

There is no such thing, folks, as a common ground or common gray. There are absolutes. There is a right and there is a wrong.

This quote rejects relativism and affirms the biblical distinction between holy and profane as absolute.

Profanity is not just language, it's a life.

A succinct summary of the entire message, emphasizing that profanity is fundamentally about how one lives.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does limiting profanity to foul language allow Christians to live profane lives without conviction?

[Context]

Weaver argues that a narrow definition of profanity frees us to live disobediently while feeling righteous about our speech.

[Question]

In what ways might we be taking God's name in vain through our actions rather than our words?

[Context]

The sermon defines taking God's name in vain as an empty profession when our lives deny His sovereignty.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'walk worthy' of our calling, and how does that contrast with profanity?

[Context]

Weaver presents walking worthy as the positive command that opposes taking God's name in vain, involving obedience and distinct living.

[Question]

How does the example of Esau challenge our understanding of what it means to be a profane person?

[Context]

Esau is called profane for despising his birthright, not for his language, showing that profanity is about valuing spiritual things.

[Question]

What are some areas of life where we might be living 'outside the temple' and thus profaning God's name?

[Context]

The etymology of 'profane' as 'outside the temple' suggests any area of life not submitted to God's Word is profane.

[Question]

How can preachers and teachers avoid the error of 'preaching profanity' by omitting parts of God's counsel?

[Context]

Weaver warns that failing to declare the whole counsel of God is a form of profanity in the pulpit.

[Question]

Why is relativism incompatible with the biblical command to distinguish between holy and profane?

[Context]

Ezekiel 22:26 condemns those who blur the line between holy and unholy, and Weaver applies this to modern relativism.

[Question]

What practical steps can we take to ensure we are carrying God's name in truth rather than in vain?

[Context]

The sermon calls for grounding our lives fully on God's Word and obeying His commands as the way to honor His name.

Applications

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