The Westminster Larger Catechism on the Ten Commandments

12/12/2022 pilgrim stranger Creeds and Confessions
Moral Law Ten Commandments

Q. 98. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?

A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon mount Sinai, and written by him in two tables of stone;1 and are recorded in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. The four first commandments containing our duty to God, and the other six our duty to man.2

  1. Deut. 10:4; Exod. 34:1-4
  2. Matt. 22:37-38, 40

Q. 99. What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of the ten commandments?

A. For the right understanding of the ten commandments, these rules are to be observed:

  1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth everyone to full conformity in the whole man unto the righteousness thereof, and unto entire obedience forever; so as to require the utmost perfection of every duty, and to forbid the least degree of every sin.1
    1. Psa. 19:7; James 2:10; Matt. 5:21-22
  2. That it is spiritual, and so reaches the understanding, will, affections, and all other powers of the soul; as well as words, works, and gestures.2
    1. Rom. 7:14; Deut. 6:5; Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28, 33-34, 37-39, 43-44; 22:37-39
  3. That one and the same thing, in divers respects, is required or forbidden in several commandments.3
    1. Col. 3:5; Amos 8:5; Prov. 1:19; 1 Tim. 6:10
  4. That as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden;4 and, where a sin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded:5 so, where a promise is annexed, the contrary threatening is included;6 and, where a threatening is annexed, the contrary promise is included.7
    1. Isa. 58:13; Deut. 6:13; Matt. 4:9-10; 15:4-6
    2. Matt. 5:21-25; Eph. 4:28
    3. Exod. 20:12; Prov. 30:17
    4. Jer. 18:7-8; Exod. 20:7; Psa. 15:1, 4-5; 24:4-5
  5. That what God forbids, is at no time to be done;8 what he commands, is always our duty;9 and yet every particular duty is not to be done at all times.10
    1. Job. 13:7; 36:21; Rom. 3:8; Heb. 11:25
    2. Deut. 4:8-9
    3. Matt. 12:7
  6. That under one sin or duty, all of the same kind are forbidden or commanded; together with all the causes, means, occasions, and appearances thereof, and provocations thereunto.11
    1. Matt. 5:21-22, 27-28; 15:4-6; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Thess. 5:22-23; Gal. 5:26; Col. 3:21
  7. That what is forbidden or commanded to ourselves, we are bound, according to our places, to endeavor that it may be avoided or performed by others, according to the duty of their places.12
    1. Exod. 20:10; Lev. 19:17; Gen. 18:19; Josh. 24:15; Deut. 6:6-7
  8. That in what is commanded to others, we are bound, according to our places and callings, to be helpful to them;13 and to take heed of partaking with others in what is forbidden them.14
    1. 2 Cor. 1:24
    2. 1 Tim. 5:22

Q. 100. What special things are we to consider in the ten commandments?

A. We are to consider, in the ten commandments, the preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and several reasons annexed to some of them, the more to enforce them.

Q. 101. What is the preface to the ten commandments?

A. The preface to the ten commandments is contained 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.1 Wherein God manifesteth his sovereignty, as being JEHOVAH, the eternal, immutable, and almighty God;2 having his being in and of himself,3 and giving being to all his words4 and works:5 and that he is a God in covenant, as with Israel of old, so with all his people;6 who, as he brought them out of their bondage in Egypt, so he delivers us from our spiritual thraldom;7 and that therefore we are bound to take him for our God alone, and to keep all his commandments.8

  1. Exod. 20:2
  2. Isa. 44:6
  3. Exod. 3:14
  4. Exod. 6:3
  5. Acts 17:24, 28
  6. Gen. 17:7; Rom. 3:29
  7. Luke 1:74-75
  8. 1 Peter 1:15-18; Lev. 18:30, 19:37

Q. 102. What is the sum of the four commandments which contain our duty to God?

A. The sum of the four commandments containing our duty to God is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind.1

  1. Luke 10:27

Q. 122. What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man?

A. The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man is, to love our neighbor as ourselves,1 and to do to others what we would have them to do to us.2

  1. Matt. 22:39
  2. Matt. 7:12

Q. 149. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A. No man is able, either of himself,1 or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God;2 but doth daily break them in thought,3 word, and deed.4

  1. James 3:2; John 15:5; Rom. 8:3
  2. Eccl. 7:20; 1 John 1:8, 10; Gal. 5:17; Rom. 7:18-19
  3. Gen. 6:5, 8:21
  4. Rom. 3:9-19; James 3:2-13