Second Commandment

1. What is the second commandment of God?
2. What did Jesus say about the second commandment?
3. What does the second commandment require of us?
4. What does the second commandment forbid?
5. What else does the second commandment require of us?
6. Why should we speak respectfully of holy persons, places and things?
7. May the words of Sacred Scripture ever be used in a bad or disrespectful sense?
8. What is blasphemy?
9. What two conditions are necessary for blasphemy to occur?
10. What is cursing?
11. Is the cursing of animals or inanimate objects sinful?
12. Is cursing another person with moral or physical evil sinful?
13. What is profanity?
14. What is an oath?
15. Is it lawful to take an oath?
16. What conditions make an oath lawful?
17. When may an oath be taken?
18. Is an unlawful oath or vow binding?
19. What is perjury?
20. Is a Christian's name also holy?

1. What is the second commandment of God?
The second commandment of God is:

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (Ex 20:7).

2. What did Jesus say about the second commandment?
Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said..."You shall not swear falsely".... But I say to you, do not swear at all... (Mt 5:33-34).

3. What does the second commandment require of us?
The second commandment requires us always to speak reverently of God, to respect his name, and all that is sacred. (2142-2144)

Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore (Ps 113:2).

4. What does the second commandment forbid?
The second commandment forbids improper use of the names of God, Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints. (2146)

5. What else does the second commandment require of us?
The second commandment also requires us to be truthful in taking oaths and faithful in fulfilling vows. (2145)

Do not swear, whether by heaven, earth, or some other oath; let your "yes" be "yes" and your "no," "no," lest you come under condemnation (Jas 5:12).

6. Why should we speak respectfully of holy persons, places and things?
Because holy persons, places and things are consecrated to God, they call for respect and reverence.

7. May the words of Sacred Scripture ever be used in a bad or disrespectful sense?
The words of Sacred Scripture may never be used in a bad or disrespectful sense. Neither should they be ridiculed, used for jokes nor given any other meaning than what we believe God intended.

8. What is blasphemy?
Blasphemy is any word, thought or action which shows contempt for God, the Blessed Virgin, the angels, saints or religion. (2148)

Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin (Lev 24:16).

9. What two conditions are necessary for blasphemy to occur?
Two conditions necessary for blasphemy to occur are: 1) knowledge of God and the sacred; 2) deliberate contempt for the same.

10. What is cursing?
Cursing is calling down evil on some person, place or thing.

11. Is the cursing of animals or inanimate objects sinful?
The cursing of animals or inanimate objects is sinful because of the lack of virtue shown in uncontrolled anger or impatience.

12. Is cursing another person with moral or physical evil sinful?
To curse another person with moral or physical evil is always sinful according to the degree of intent in wishing the evil.

13. What is profanity?
Profanity is the irreverent use of the name of God, Christ or the saints through impatience, jest, surprise or habit. (2148-2150)

14. What is an oath?
An oath is a declaration before God that what we say is true. (2149)

Men swear in the name of someone greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a guarantee to put an end to any dispute (Heb 6:16).

15. Is it lawful to take an oath?
It is lawful to take an oath because it is a guarantee of the truth. This is expected in a court of law. (2153-2154)

You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve him, and swear by his name (Dt 6:13).

16. What conditions make an oath lawful?
The conditions which make an oath lawful are sufficient reason for taking an oath, conviction that we speak the truth, and having a good intention, not a sinful one, for taking the oath.

And if you swear, "As the Lord lives," in truth, in justice, and in uprightness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory (Jer 4:2).

17. When may an oath be taken?
An oath may be taken when it concerns the glory of God, the good of our neighbor or our own personal good.

18. Is an unlawful oath or vow binding?
In unlawful oath or vow is not binding. Such oaths or vows are not to be taken and to fulfilll them is sinful because we are misusing God's name to support a lie. (2151)

19. What is perjury?
Perjury is calling upon God to bear witness to a lie. Perjury is also committed when, while under oath, one confirms with certainty something which is unknown or doubtful. (2152)

And you shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord (Lev 19:12).

20. Is a Christian's name also holy?
Yes, the name "Christian" is holy because it refers to Jesus, the Holy One of God. The individual Christian's name is also holy because it was received in the name of the Trinity in Baptism. (2156-2159)

Behold I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him was a crowd one hundred and forty-four thousand strong, each of whom had the Lamb's name and the name of the Lamb's Father written on their foreheads (Rev 14:1).