The Ten Commandments
PART I
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
The Introduction
I am the Lord thy God.
[I am the Lord Your God.]
The First Commandment
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
[You shall have no other gods before Me.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
The Second Commandment
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.
[You shall not take the Name of the Lord Your God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His Name in vain.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, conjure, lie, or deceive, by His Name, but call upon Him in every time of need, and worship Him with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.
The Third Commandment
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not despise His Word and the preaching of the same, but deem it holy, and gladly hear and learn it.
The Fourth Commandment
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
[Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord Your God gives you.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not despise our parents and superiors, nor provoke them to anger, but honor, serve, obey, love, and esteem them.
The Fifth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.
[You shall not murder.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do our neighbor no bodily harm nor cause him any suffering, but help and befriend him in every need.
The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
[You shall not commit adultery.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we lead a chaste and pure life in word and deed, and that husband and wife love and honor each other.
The Seventh Commandment
Thou shalt not steal.
[You shall not steal.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not rob our neighbor of his money or property, nor bring them into our possession by unfair dealing or fraud, but help him to improve and protect his property and living.
The Eighth Commandment
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
[You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not deceitfully belie, betray, backbite, nor slander our neighbor, but apologize for him, speak well of him, and put the most charitable construction on all that he does.
The Ninth Commandment
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house.
[You shall not covet thy neighbor’s house.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not seek by craftiness to gain possession of our neighbor’s inheritance or home, nor obtain them under pretense of a legal right, but assist and serve him in keeping the same.
The Tenth Commandment
Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.
[You shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.]
What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God so that we do not estrange or entice away our neighbor’s wife, servants, or cattle, but seek to have them remain and discharge their duty to him.
The Conclusion
What does God declare concerning all these Commandments?
Answer: He says: I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
What does this mean?
Answer: God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments. We should, therefore, fear His wrath, and in no wise disobey them. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep them. We should, therefore, love Him, trust in Him, and gladly keep His commandments