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“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” — Luke 23:42

About the Ten Commandments


Heidelberg Catechism

Heidelberg Catechism Question 93. How are these commandments divided? Into two tables, the first of which teaches us in four commandments how we ought to live in relation to God; the other, in six commandments, what we owe to our neighbor.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Shorter Catechism Question 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man? The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to his revealed will.

  • Deut. 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever, to observe all the words of this law.”
  • Mic. 6:8 “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
  • 1 Sam. 15:22 “And Samuel said, ‘Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.’”

 

Shorter Catechism Question 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law.

  • Rom. 2:14–15 “When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them”
  • Rom. 10:5 “Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’”

 

Shorter Catechism Question 41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? The moral law is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments.

  • Matt. 19:17–19 “And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”


Shorter Catechism Question 42. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments? The sum of the Ten Commandments is: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.

  • Matt. 22:37–40 “He said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’”


Shorter Catechism Question 43. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? The preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words: “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

  • Ex. 20:2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

 

Shorter Catechism Question 44. What doth the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us? The preface to the Ten Commandments teacheth us that because God is the Lord, and our God and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.

Study Catechism

Study Catechism Question 89. What are the Ten Commandments? The Ten Commandments give a summary of God’s law for our lives. They teach us how to live rightly with God and one another.

  • Deut. 10:4 “Then he wrote on the tablets the same words as before, the ten commandments that the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me.”
  • Matt. 19:17 “And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’”

 

Study Catechism Question 90. Why did God give this law? After rescuing the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt, God led them to Mount Sinai, where they received the law through Moses. It was the great charter of liberty for Israel, a people chosen to live in covenant with God and to serve as a light to the nations. It remains the charter of liberty for all who would love, know and serve the Lord today.

  • Ex. 20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
  • Deut. 11:1 “You shall love the Lord your God, therefore, and keep his charge, his decrees, his ordinances, and his commandments always.”
  • Luke 1:74-75 “We, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”


Study Catechism Question 91. Why should you obey this law? Not to win God’s love, for God already loves me. Not to earn my salvation, for Christ has earned it for me. Not to avoid being punished, for then I would obey out of fear. With gladness in my heart I should obey God's law out of gratitude, for God has blessed me by it and given it for my well-being.

  • Ps. 118:1 “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!”
  • Col. 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.”


Study Catechism Question 92. What are the uses of God’s law? God's law has three uses. First, it shows me how grievously I fail to live according to God’s will, driving me to pray for God’s mercy. Second, it functions to restrain even the worst of sinners through the fear of punishment. Finally, it teaches me how to live a life which bears witness to the gospel, and spurs me on to do so.

  • Rom. 3:20 “For ‘no human being will be justified in his sight’ by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”
  • Rom. 7:7 “What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’”
  • Prov. 6:23 “For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.”


Study Catechism Question 103. What is the best summary of the first four commandments? These teach me how to live rightly with God. Jesus summed them up with the commandment he called the first and greatest: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37; Deut. 6:5).

Study Catechism Question 118. What is the best summary of the last six commandments? These teach me how to live rightly with my neighbor. Jesus summed them up with the commandment which is like the greatest one about loving God: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39; Lev. 19:18).


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