Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 34 image

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 34

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[Heidelberg only quotes four texts at any length--the Apostles' Creed, the institution of the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer--reflecting its overriding concerns with the gospel, the sacraments, the Christian life, and prayer. Here, in quoting the Ten Commandments in full, it implies something significant: that they represent the best summary of Christian ethics that there is. Evangelicalism today, understandably nervous of anything legalistic, might balk at such an idea, but in Heidelberg's favour, it is at least how Jesus did it. Love God, love your neighbour: Christian ethics in a nutshell.]

Q92. What is God’s law?

A92. God spoke all these words:
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
“I am the LORD your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery;
you shall have no other gods before me.”
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
“You shall not make for yourself an idol,
whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above,
or that is on the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them;
for I the LORD your God am a jealous God,
punishing children for the iniquity of parents,
to the third and the fourth generation
of those who reject me,
but showing love to the thousandth generation of those
who love me and keep my commandments.”
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
“You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God,
for the LORD will not acquit anyone
who misuses his name.”
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
“Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God;
you shall not do any work—
you, your son or your daughter,
your male or female slave,
your livestock,
or the alien resident in your towns.
For in six days the LORD made
heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that is in them,
but rested the seventh day;
therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day
and consecrated it.”
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
“Honor your father and your mother,
so that your days may be long
in the land that the Lord your God is giving to you.”
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not murder.”
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not commit adultery.”
THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not steal.”
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not bear false witness
against your neighbour.”
THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house;
you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife,
or male or female slave,
or ox, or donkey,
or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”

Q93. How are these commandments divided?

A93. Into two tables.
The first has four commandments,
teaching us how we ought to live in relation to God.
The second has six commandments,
teaching us what we owe our neighbour.

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