The Ten Commandments
The duties required and sins forbidden in each commandment
Questions 98–148
Q98. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon mount …
Q99. What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of the ten commandments?
For the right understanding of the ten commandments, these rules are to be observed: 1. That the law is perfect, …
Q100. What special things are we to consider in the ten commandments?
We are to consider, in the ten commandments, the preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and several reasons annexed …
Q101. What is the preface to the ten commandments?
The preface to the ten commandments is contained in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought …
Q102. What is the sum of the four commandments which contain our duty to God?
The sum of the four commandments containing our duty to God is, to love the Lord our God with all …
Q103. Which is the first commandment?
The first commandment is, Thou shall have no other gods before me.
Q104. What are the duties required in the first commandment?
The duties required in the first commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God, …
Q105. What are the sins forbidden in the first commandment?
The sins forbidden in the first commandment are, atheism, in denying or not having a God; Idolatry, in having or …
Q106. What are we specially taught by these words before me in the first commandment?
These words before me, or before my face, in the first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all things, …
Q107. Which is the second commandment?
The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is …
Q108. What are the duties required in the second commandment?
The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship …
Q109. What are the sins forbidden in the second commandment?
The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counseling, commanding, using, and anywise approving, any religious worship not …
Q110. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment, the more to enforce it?
The reasons annexed to the second commandment, the more to enforce it, contained in these words, For I the Lord …
Q111. Which is the third commandment?
The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord …
Q112. What is required in the third commandment?
The third commandment requires, That the name of God, his titles, attributes, ordinances, the word, sacraments, prayer, oaths, vows, lots, …
Q113. What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment?
The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, the not using of God's name as is required; and the abuse …
Q114. What reasons are annexed to the third commandment?
The reasons annexed to the third commandment, in these words, The Lord thy God, and, For the Lord will not …
Q115. Which is the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all …
Q116. What is required in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment requires of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he hath …
Q117. How is the sabbath or the Lord's day to be sanctified?
The sabbath or Lord's day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, not only from such …
Q118. Why is the charge of keeping the sabbath more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors?
The charge of keeping the sabbath is more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors, because they are …
Q119. What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment?
The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required, all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing …
Q120. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it?
The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God …
Q121. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?
The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit of remembering …
Q122. What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man?
The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man is, to love our neighbor as ourselves, and …
Q123. Which is the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which …
Q124. Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment?
By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in age and …
Q125. Why are superiors styled Father and Mother?
Superiors are styled Father and Mother, both to teach them in all duties toward their inferiors, like natural parents, to …
Q126. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment?
The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our several …
Q127. What is the honor that inferiors owe to their superiors?
The honor which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart, word, and behavior; prayer and thanksgiving …
Q128. What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?
The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them; envying at, contempt of, …
Q129. What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to …
Q130. What are the sins of superiors?
The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the duties required of them, an inordinate seeking of themselves, their …
Q131. What are the duties of equals?
The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and worth of each other, in giving honor to go one …
Q132. What are the sins of equals?
The sins of equals are, besides the neglect of the duties required, the undervaluing of the worth, envying the gifts, …
Q133. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment, the more to enforce it?
The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in these words, That thy days may be long upon the land which …
Q134. Which is the sixth commandment?
The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.
Q135. What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?
The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves …
Q136. What are the sins forbidden in the sixth commandment?
The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others, except in …
Q137. Which is the seventh commandment?
The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q138. What are the duties required in the seventh commandment?
The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind, affections, words, and behavior; and the preservation of …
Q139. What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment?
The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, adultery, fornication, rape, incest, sodomy, …
Q140. Which is the eighth commandment?
The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.
Q141. What are the duties required in the eighth commandment?
The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man and man; …
Q142. What are the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment?
The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, theft, robbery, man-stealing, and receiving …
Q143. Which is the ninth commandment?
The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Q144. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment?
The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, and the …
Q145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?
The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as …
Q146. Which is the tenth commandment?
The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his …
Q147. What are the duties required in the tenth commandment?
The duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our own condition, and such a charitable …
Q148. What are the sins forbidden in the tenth commandment?
The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate; envying and grieving at the good of …