The shorter Catechism - Moral law (Q43 - 84) Flashcards
Q. 43. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments?
The preface to the Ten Commandments is: I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Q. 44. What does the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us?
The preface to the Ten Commandments teaches us that because God is the LORD and our God and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments
Q. 45. Which is the first commandment?
The first commandment is: You shall have no other gods before me.
Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment?
The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment?
The first commandment forbids the denial of, or failure to worship and glorify, the true God as God and our God; and it forbids giving that worship and glory to any other which is due to God alone.
Q. 48. What do the words “before me” in the first commandment teach us?
These words “before me” in the first commandment teach us that God, who sees all things, takes notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God.
Q. 49. Which is the second commandment?
The second commandment is: You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments.
Q. 50. What are the duties required in the second commandment?
The second commandment requires us to receive, observe, and keep pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God has appointed in his Word.
Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
The second commandment forbids the worship of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word.
Q. 52. What are the reasons attached to the second commandment?
The reasons attached to the second commandment are God’s authority as our lawgiver, the fact that we belong to him, and the zeal he has for his own worship.
Q. 53. Which is the third commandment?
The third commandment is: You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Q. 54. What is required in the third commandment?
The third commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God’s name, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works.
Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
The third commandment forbids all unworthy use of anything by which God makes himself known.
Q. 56. What is the reason attached to the third commandment?
The reason attached to the third commandment is that though the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the LORD your God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgement.
Q. 57. Which is the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment is: Remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien/stranger within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
Q. 58. What is required in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set times as he has appointed in his Word, in particular, one whole day in seven.
Q. 59. Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly sabbath?
From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath, but thereafter he appointed the first day of the week, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath /or Lord’s Day/.
Q. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
The sabbath /or Lord’s Day, which is given for man’s good and as a pointer to his eternal destiny, is to be kept holy by resting all that day from our work and recreations, and spending the whole time in the public and private worship, except the time spent in works of necessity and mercy.
Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
The fourth commandment forbids the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the misuse of the day by idleness, sinful acts, or unnecessary thoughts, words or works about our worldly affairs and recreations.
Q. 62. What are the reasons attached to the fourth commandment?
The reasons attached to the fourth commandment are God’s allowance of six days for worldly tasks, his claim to special ownership of the seventh, his own example, and his blessing of the sabbath day.
Q. 63. Which is the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment is: Honour your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment requires us to preserve the honour and perform the duties belonging to everyone in their different positions and relationships in life.
Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
The fifth commandment forbids us to neglect or to do anything against the honour and duty which belongs to everyone in their various positions and relationships in life.
Q. 66. What is the reason attached to the fifth commandment?
The reason attached to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (so far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good) to all those who keep this commandment.
