| Question | What is the sum of the ten commandments? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves. 1 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Were the Ten Commandments written originally in two tables?
Yes.
The Lord said hew thee out two tables of stone, and I will write upon the tables,
Deuteronomy 10:1
Is love to God inclusive of all the duties of the first table?
Yes.
It is the first and great commandment,
Matthew 22:38
And is love to our neighbour inclusive of all the duties of the second?
Yes.
The second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,
Matthew 22:39
Is the whole law then fulfilled in love?
Yes.
For love is the fulfilling of the law,
Romans 13:10
Is it our duty to love God?
Yes.
Take good heed to yourselves that ye love the Lord your God,
Joshua 23:11
Is there in him every thing that is lovely?
Yes.
How great is his beauty,
Zechariah 9:17
And will he return our love?
Yes.
I love them that love me,
Proverbs 8:17
And reward it?
Yes.
For eye hath not seen what God hath prepared for them that love him,
1 Corinthians 2:9
Should we discover our love to God in frequent thoughts of him?
Yes.
My meditation of him shall be sweet,
Psalm 104:34
And in earnest desires after him?
Yes.
My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee,
Psalm 63:2
And in sorrow for his absence?
Yes.
Why hidest thou thyself,
Psalm 10:1
And in an unfeigned submission to his providential will?
Yes.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth,
Psalm 39:9
And in a conscientious obedience to all his commands?
Yes.
This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,
1 John 5:3
And in a due resentment against whatsoever offends him?
Yes.
Do not I hate them that hate thee, and am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee?
Psalm 139:21
Should our love to God be rational and judicious?
Yes.
That your love might abound yet more and more, in knowledge and in all judgment,
Philippians 1:9
And upright and sincere?
Yes.
Grace be with them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity,
Ephesians 6:24
And strong and vehement?
Yes.
I am sick of love,
Song of Solomon 2:5
And supreme and superlative?
Yes.
He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me,
Matthew 10:37
And constant and abiding?
Yes.
Keep yourselves in the love of God,
Jude 21
Must our love be confined to God?
No.
He that loveth God must love his brother also,
1 John 4:21
Should we seek the good of others?
Yes.
Charity seeketh not her own,
1 Corinthians 13:5
And lend a compassionate ear to their complaints?
Yes.
To the afflicted pity should be shown,
Job 6:14
And supply their necessities?
Yes.
We should not withhold the poor from his desire, nor cause the eye of the widow to fail,
Job 31:16
And reprove their sins?
Yes.
Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour,
Leviticus 19:17
And pray for them?
Yes.
Pray one for another,
James 5:16
And even venture our lives for them if it be necessary?
Yes.
We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren,
1 John 3:16
Should we love others as Christ hath loved us?
Yes.
And walk in love as Christ also loved us,
Ephesians 5:2
And as we love ourselves?
Yes.
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,
Matthew 19:19
Should we love them as sincerely?
Yes.
Let us not love in word, but in deed and in truth,
1 John 3:18
And as fervently?
Yes.
Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves,
1 Peter 4:8
And as constantly?
Yes.
Let brotherly love continue,
Hebrews 13:1
Doth it hence follow that we . should do to others as we would be done by?
Yes.
Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even unto them,
Matthew 7:12
Is love, Christ’s new commandment?
Yes.
A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another,
John 13:34
Is it a test of our discipleship?
Yes.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another,
John 13:35
Is it placed at the top of the Christian graces?
Yes.
The greatest of these is charity,
1 Corinthians 13:13
And is it a grace that will continue and accompany us to heaven?
Yes.
Now abideth charity,
1 Corinthians 13:13
The Westminster Larger Catechism
| Question | What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of the ten commandments? |
|---|---|
| Answer | For the right understanding of the ten commandments, these rules are to be observed: 1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth everyone to full conformity in the whole man unto the righteousness thereof, and unto entire obedience forever; so as to require the utmost perfection of every duty, and to forbid the least degree of every sin. 1 2. That it is spiritual, and so reaches the understanding, will, affections, and all other powers of the soul; as well as words, works, and gestures. 2 3. That one and the same thing, in divers respects, is required or forbidden in several commandments. 3 4. That as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden; 4 and, where a sin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded: 5 so, where a promise is annexed, the contrary threatening is included; 6 and, where a threatening is annexed, the contrary promise is included. 7 5. That what God forbids, is at no time to be done; 8 What he commands, is always our duty; 9 and yet every particular duty is not to be done at all times. 10 6. That under one sin or duty, all of the same kind are forbidden or commanded; together with all the causes, means, occasions, and appearances thereof, and provocations thereunto. 11 7. That what is forbidden or commanded to ourselves, we are bound, according to our places, to endeavor that it may be avoided or performed by others, according to the duty of their places. 12 8. That in what is commanded to others, we are bound, according to our places and callings, to be helpful to them; 13 and to take heed of partaking with others in what is forbidden them. 14 |
| Question | What special things are we to consider in the ten commandments? |
|---|---|
| Answer | We are to consider, in the ten commandments, the preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and several reasons annexed to some of them, the more to enforce them. |
| Question | What is the sum of the four commandments which contain our duty to God? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The sum of the four commandments containing our duty to God is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind. 1 |
| Question | What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man is, to love our neighbor as ourselves, 1 and to do to others what we would have them to do to us. 2 |