Dr. Martin Luther's

Small Catechism

The Six Chief Parts:

I. The Ten Commandments

The First Commandment

I am the Lord your God-

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear, love, and trust God above anything else.

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The Second Commandment

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that we do not use God's name superstitiously, or use it to curse, swear, lie, or deceive, but call upon God in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.

The Third Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that we do not neglect God's Word and the preaching of it, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it.

The Fourth Commandment

Honor your father and your mother

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and others in authority, but respect, obey, love, and serve them.

The Fifth Commandment

You shall not kill

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in any way, but help them in all their physical needs.

The Sixth Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that in matters of sex our words and conduct are pure and honorable, and husband, wife, and partners love and respect each other.

The Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal.

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor's money or property, or get them in any dishonest way, but help our neighbors to improve and protect their property and means of making a living.

The Eighth Commandment

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that we do not betray, slander, or lie about our neighbor, but defend them, speak well of them, and explain their actions in the kindest way.

The Ninth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor's house

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that we do not desire to get our neighbor's possessions by scheming or by pretending to have a right to them, but always help our neighbors keep what is theirs.

The Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor's spouse, manservant, or maidservant, or cattle, or anything else that is your neighbor's

What does this mean for us:

We are to fear and love God so that we do not tempt or coax away from our neighbor a spouse or workers, but encourage them to remain loyal.

The Close of the Commandments

What does God say of all these commandments?

God says: "I, Adonai, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers and mothers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

What does this mean for us:

God warns that God will punish all who break these commandments. Therefore we are to fear God's wrath and not disobey. But God promises grace and every blessing to all who keep thse commandments. Therefore we are to love and trust God and gladly do what God commands.

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Dated: 15 June 2003, MTH