Read the Westminster Standards in a year.

Shorter Catechism

Q 54. What is required in the third commandment?

A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God’s names, titles,1 attributes,2 ordinances,3 Word,4 and works.5

Larger Catechism

Q 112. What is required in the third commandment?

A. The third commandment requires, that the name of God, his titles, attributes,6 ordinances,7 the Word,8 sacraments,9 prayer,10 oaths,11 vows,12 lots,13 his works,14 and whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and reverently used in thought,15 meditation,16 word,17 and writing;18 by an holy profession,19 and answerable conversation,20 to the glory of God,21 and the good of ourselves,22 and others.23


  1. Deuteronomy 10:20

    You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.

    Psalm 29:2

    Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

    Matthew 6:9

    Pray then like this:

    “Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name.
    (ESV)

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  2. 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

    Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

    Revelation 15:3-4

    And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

    “Great and amazing are your deeds,
    O Lord God the Almighty!
    Just and true are your ways,
    O King of the nations!
    Who will not fear, O Lord,
    and glorify your name?
    For you alone are holy.
    All nations will come
    and worship you,
    for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (ESV)

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  3. Acts 2:42

    And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

    1 Corinthians 11:27-28

    Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (ESV)

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  4. Psalm 138:2

    I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.

    Revelation 22:18-19

    I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (ESV)

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  5. Psalm 107:21-22

    Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
    And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
    and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

    Revelation 4:11

    “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
    for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.” (ESV)

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  6. Matthew 6:9

    Pray then like this:

    “Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name.

    Deuteronomy 28:58

    “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God,

    Psalm 68:4

    Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
    lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
    his name is the Lord;
    exult before him!

    Psalm 29:2

    Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

    1 Chronicles 29:10-13

    Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

    Revelation 15:3-4

    And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

    “Great and amazing are your deeds,
    O Lord God the Almighty!
    Just and true are your ways,
    O King of the nations!
    Who will not fear, O Lord,
    and glorify your name?
    For you alone are holy.
    All nations will come
    and worship you,
    for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (ESV)

    ↩︎
  7. Ecclesiastes 5:1

    5:1  Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.

    Luke 1:6

    And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

    Malachi 1:11

    For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

    Malachi 1:14

    Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. (ESV)

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  8. Psalm 138:2

    I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word. (ESV)

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  9. 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

    and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

    1 Corinthians 11:28-29

    Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. (ESV)

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  10. 1 Timothy 2:8

    I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; (ESV)

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  11. Jeremiah 4:2

    and if you swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’
    in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,
    then nations shall bless themselves in him,
    and in him shall they glory.” (ESV)

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  12. Ecclesiastes 5:2

    Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

    Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

    When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? (ESV)

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  13. Acts 1:24

    And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

    Acts 1:26

    And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (ESV)

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  14. Job 36:24

    “Remember to extol his work,
    of which men have sung. (ESV)

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  15. Malachi 3:16

    Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. (ESV)

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  16. Psalm 8:1

    8:1 O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
    You have set your glory above the heavens.

    Psalm 8:3-4

    When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
    what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him? (ESV)

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  17. Psalm 105:2

    Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!

    Psalm 105:5

    Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

    Colossians 3:17

    And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)

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  18. Psalm 102:18

    Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
    so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: (ESV)

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  19. 1 Peter 3:15

    but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

    Micah 4:5

    For all the peoples walk
    each in the name of its god,
    but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God
    forever and ever. (ESV)

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  20. Philippians 1:27

    Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, (ESV)

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  21. 1 Corinthians 10:31

    So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)

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  22. Jeremiah 32:39

    I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. (ESV)

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  23. 1 Peter 2:12

    Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (ESV)

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Copyright © Tim Hopper. Based on Calendar of Readings in the Westminster Standards by Dr. Joey Pipa. Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.