Blasphemy
1. Do not misuse the name of the Lord God (Exodus 20:7). This is referred to as “ch’illul Hashem”– (KHIH-lool hah-SHEM) which in Hebrew means “Desecration of the divine name”. Desecrating the name of the Lord means more than simply using any of the Lord’s names in a pejorative manner. It includes identifying yourself as a child of God, a righteous person, but living an unethical, immoral, unworthy life and thus bringing shame to Hashem’s name and His people. Note that the punishment for such hypocrisy will come from the Lord Himself. This understanding of the nature of ch’illul Hashem is supported further by the following point.
2. Do not disobey Yahweh’s mitzvoth (Leviticus 22:31-32). Such rebellious behavior is categorically defined as “profaning the holy name of God”. This is also related to the issue of “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 12:22-32; Mark 3:22-30). When the Holy Spirit speaks to us of our need for the atoning work of Christ and we stubbornly refuse to listen, or ascribe the impression to something other than God’s demands on our lives, we are guilty of the “unforgivable sin”. There is no pardon for a person who refuses God’s forgiveness.
3. Do not test Yahweh by doubting or rebelling (Deuteronomy 6:14-16). This is a direct application of the last two points. If we have claimed Yahweh’s Anointed as our King, we must never turn back on that decision and “as a dog returns to its vomit” (Proverbs 26:11) go back to our old sinful rebellion. As Peter said,
“Testing God is more specifically defined as “following other gods” (Deuteronomy 6:14 cp 12:4). Idolatry, in whatever form it takes is the worst form of blasphemy. Anytime that we ascribe God’s work to other things or attempt to place God in some kind of box that is more comfortable for our sinful psyches we are guilty of blasphemy and are on a very frightening slippery slope (Romans 1:21-32). God views this as a personal insult and He will reward the perpetrators fully for their evil deeds (Deuteronomy 7:9-10; Isaiah 65:7).
4. Do not swear falsely on the name of the Lord (Leviticus 19:12). We are not to commit perjury on pain of the Lord of Hosts cursing our home (Zechariah 5:3-4). When someone does something wrong and then commits perjury on top of it, not only must they make direct restitution but they must add 1/5 of value to it for obstructing justice (Leviticus 6:2-5). Then the offender must make some sacrifice of time, effort or money to the Lord besides that (Leviticus 6:6-7). To get a better grasp of the seriousness of swearing falsely note that it is listed cheek by jowl with sorcery, adultery, oppression of widows and the fatherless, fraud/theft, and racially motivated oppression (Malachi 3:5). In the New Covenant it is listed along with patricide, matricide, homicide, sexual immorality, homosexuality, kidnapping, lying and more generally “whatever else is contrary to sound teaching” (1 Timothy 1:10). These are obvious signs of a serious lack of fear of the Lord. Those who practice perjury are described as “unrighteous, lawless, rebellious, ungodly, sinful, unholy and irreverent” by the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:9). I believe that James’ admonition to “not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath” but to let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no” is an extension of this law (James 5:12). Judaizers limit the law to “don’t break an oath made in Yahweh’s name” with the implication that any other oath may be bent or broken (Matthew 5:33-37). However, both the Master and His half-brother state that no oath should ever be needed among the Talmidim because our word is our bond. Everything we say must be the absolute intent of our heart.
5. The penalty for blasphemy: death by stoning (Leviticus 24:16 but see dinah d'malchuta dinah). With its inclusion with the likes of patricide, matricide, homicide, kidnapping etc this should not come as a surprise. Why such a drastic penalty? It is because it gnaws at the very root of the legal system. If lying to the court is tolerated it will soon devolve into legal arguments over semantics rather than maintaining a focus on the maintenance of justice and peace. Justice is obstructed. Victims keep getting victimized while the liar sits comfortably in court lying. Criminals get a chance to cover their tracks or to get away. There is not much that is more insidious than a society’s tolerance for lying, whether in business or the legal system. It is an attack on the very foundational structure of a nation/state.
2. Do not disobey Yahweh’s mitzvoth (Leviticus 22:31-32). Such rebellious behavior is categorically defined as “profaning the holy name of God”. This is also related to the issue of “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 12:22-32; Mark 3:22-30). When the Holy Spirit speaks to us of our need for the atoning work of Christ and we stubbornly refuse to listen, or ascribe the impression to something other than God’s demands on our lives, we are guilty of the “unforgivable sin”. There is no pardon for a person who refuses God’s forgiveness.
3. Do not test Yahweh by doubting or rebelling (Deuteronomy 6:14-16). This is a direct application of the last two points. If we have claimed Yahweh’s Anointed as our King, we must never turn back on that decision and “as a dog returns to its vomit” (Proverbs 26:11) go back to our old sinful rebellion. As Peter said,
- 2 Peter 2:20-22 HCSB For if, having escaped the world's impurity through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first. (21) For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. (22) It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, and, "a sow, after washing itself, wallows in the mud."
“Testing God is more specifically defined as “following other gods” (Deuteronomy 6:14 cp 12:4). Idolatry, in whatever form it takes is the worst form of blasphemy. Anytime that we ascribe God’s work to other things or attempt to place God in some kind of box that is more comfortable for our sinful psyches we are guilty of blasphemy and are on a very frightening slippery slope (Romans 1:21-32). God views this as a personal insult and He will reward the perpetrators fully for their evil deeds (Deuteronomy 7:9-10; Isaiah 65:7).
4. Do not swear falsely on the name of the Lord (Leviticus 19:12). We are not to commit perjury on pain of the Lord of Hosts cursing our home (Zechariah 5:3-4). When someone does something wrong and then commits perjury on top of it, not only must they make direct restitution but they must add 1/5 of value to it for obstructing justice (Leviticus 6:2-5). Then the offender must make some sacrifice of time, effort or money to the Lord besides that (Leviticus 6:6-7). To get a better grasp of the seriousness of swearing falsely note that it is listed cheek by jowl with sorcery, adultery, oppression of widows and the fatherless, fraud/theft, and racially motivated oppression (Malachi 3:5). In the New Covenant it is listed along with patricide, matricide, homicide, sexual immorality, homosexuality, kidnapping, lying and more generally “whatever else is contrary to sound teaching” (1 Timothy 1:10). These are obvious signs of a serious lack of fear of the Lord. Those who practice perjury are described as “unrighteous, lawless, rebellious, ungodly, sinful, unholy and irreverent” by the Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 1:9). I believe that James’ admonition to “not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath” but to let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no” is an extension of this law (James 5:12). Judaizers limit the law to “don’t break an oath made in Yahweh’s name” with the implication that any other oath may be bent or broken (Matthew 5:33-37). However, both the Master and His half-brother state that no oath should ever be needed among the Talmidim because our word is our bond. Everything we say must be the absolute intent of our heart.
5. The penalty for blasphemy: death by stoning (Leviticus 24:16 but see dinah d'malchuta dinah). With its inclusion with the likes of patricide, matricide, homicide, kidnapping etc this should not come as a surprise. Why such a drastic penalty? It is because it gnaws at the very root of the legal system. If lying to the court is tolerated it will soon devolve into legal arguments over semantics rather than maintaining a focus on the maintenance of justice and peace. Justice is obstructed. Victims keep getting victimized while the liar sits comfortably in court lying. Criminals get a chance to cover their tracks or to get away. There is not much that is more insidious than a society’s tolerance for lying, whether in business or the legal system. It is an attack on the very foundational structure of a nation/state.
