Shorter Catechism Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment? A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known. Commentary: How might we profane or abuse God’s name or “anything whereby God maketh himself known”? One way is to invoke God’s name to confirm a lie (e.g., … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 53. Which is the third commandment? A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Q. 54. What is required in the third commandment? A. The third commandment requireth the holy … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship. Commentary: God doesn’t merely tell us what to do, he also tells why we should do it. … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment? A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshiping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his word. Commentary: The second commandment doesn’t forbid the making of carved images or of other art forms. After all, God told Moses at one point to … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 49. Which is the second commandment? A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 48. What are we specially taught by these words before me in the first commandment? A. These words before me in the first commandment teach us that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other god. Commentary: The phrase “before me” is literally … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment? A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshiping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone. Commentary: The first commandment forbids atheism There are … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 45. Which is the first commandment? A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment? A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? A. 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. Commentary: The opening words of the decalogue teach us two reasons we … [Read more…]
Shorter Catechism Q. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments? A. 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. Commentary: The Bible doesn’t refer to the Ten Commandments as … [Read more…]