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The Small Catechism, Part 1: The Ten Commandments
Luther's Small Catechism
Translation by Robert E. Smith; May 22, 1994
Version 1.1 -- December 22, 1994; PW# 001-003-002Ea
Formated by Gerald W. Lester; March 27, 1995
The Ten Commandments:
The Simple Way a Father Should Present Them to His Household
You must not have other gods.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear, love, and trust God more than anything else.
You must not misuse your God's name.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that we will not use His name
to curse, swear, cast a spell, lie or deceive, but will use it to
call upon Him, pray to Him, praise Him and thank Him in all times
of trouble.
3.
The Third Commandment
You must keep the Sabbath holy.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that we will not look down on
preaching or God's Word, but consider it holy, listen to it
willingly, and learn it.
You must honor your father and mother. [So that things will go
well for you and you will live long on earth].
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that we will neither look down
on our parents or superiors nor irritate them, but will honor
them, serve them, obey them, love them and value them.
You must not kill.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that we will neither harm nor
hurt our neighbor's body, but help him and care for him when he is
ill.
You must not commit adultery.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that our words and actions
will be clean and decent and so that everyone will love and honor
their spouses.
You must not steal.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that we will neither take our
neighbor's money or property, nor acquire it by fraud or by
selling him poorly made products, but will help him improve and
protect his property and career.
You must not tell lies about your neighbor.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that we will not deceive by
lying, betraying, slandering or ruining our neighbor's reputation,
but will defend him, say good things about him, and see the best
side of everything he does.
You must not desire your neighbor's house.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that we will not attempt to
trick our neighbor out of his inheritance or house, take it by
pretending to have a right to it, etc. but help him to keep &
improve it.
You must not desire your neighbor's wife, servant, maid, animals
or anything that belongs to him.
- Question:
- What does this mean?
- Answer:
- We must fear and love God, so that we will not release his
cattle, take his employees from him or seduce his wife, but urge
they to stay and do what they ought to do.
Question:What does God say to us about all these commandments?
Answer:This is what He says:
I am the Lord Your God.
I am a jealous God. I plague the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those
who hate me with their ancestor's sin. But I make whole those who love me for a
thousand generations.
- Question:
- What does it mean?
- Answer:
- God threatens to punish everyone who breaks these commandments.
We should be afraid of His anger because of this and not violate such
commandments. But He promises grace and
all good things to those who keep such commandments. Because of this, we, too,
should love Him, trust Him, and willingly do what His commandments require.
[Part 2: The Creed]*
[Title Index]*
[Author Index]*
[Subject Index]
This text was translated in 1994 for Project Wittenberg by Robert
E. Smith and has been placed in the public domain by him. It was formatted by
Gerald W. Lester. You may
freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
Concordia Theological Seminary
6600 N. Clinton St.
Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu
Voice: (260) 452-2123
Fax: (260) 452-2126