IN THE PLAIN FORM IN WHICH THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY
SHALL TEACH THEM TO HIS HOUSEHOLD
The First
- “You shall have no other
gods.” - What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear, love, and
trust in God above all things.
The Second
- “You shall not take the name of the Lord your
God in vain.” - What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and
so we should not use His name to
curse, swear, practice magic, lie, or
deceive, but in every time of need call upon Him, pray
to Him, praise Him, and give Him thanks.
The Third
- “Remember the Sabbath day, to
keep it holy.” - What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should
not despise His Word and the preaching of the same,
but deem It holy and gladly hear and learn it.
The Fourth
- “Honor your father and your mother.”
- What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should
not despise our parents and superiors, nor provoke
them to anger, but honor, serve, obey, love, and
esteem them.
The Fifth
- "You shall not kill.”
- What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should
not endanger our neighbor’s life, nor cause him any
harm, but help and befriend him in every necessity of
life.
The Sixth
- “You shall not commit adultery.”
- What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should
lead a chaste and pure life in word and deed, each one
loving and honoring his wife or her husband.
The Seventh
- “You shall not steal.”
- What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should
not rob our neighbor of his money or property, nor
bring them into our possession by dishonest trade or
by dealing in shoddy wares, but help him to improve
and protect his income and property.
The Eighth
- “You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbor.” - What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should
not tell lies about our neighbor, nor betray, slander,
or defame him, but should apologize for him, speak
well of him, and interpret charitably all that he
does.
The Ninth
- “You shall not covet your neighbor’s
house.” - What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should
not seek by craftiness to gain possession of our
neighbor’s inheritance or home, nor to obtain them
under pretext of legal right, but be of service and
help to him so that he may keep what is his.
The Tenth
- “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or
his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his
ass, or anything that is your
neighbor’s.” - What does this mean?
Answer: We should fear and love God, and so we should
not abduct, estrange, or entice away our neighbor’s
wife, servants, or cattle, but encourage them to
remain and discharge their duty to him.
Conclusion
- What does God declare concerning all these
commandments?
Answer: He says, “I the Lord your God am a
jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children to the third and the 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?
Answer: God threatens to punish all who transgress
these commandments. We should therefore fear His wrath
and not disobey these commandments. On the other hand,
He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep
them. We should therefore love Him, trust in Him, and
cheerfully do what He has commanded.
These Are the Holy Ten Commands
Ten Commands (0.95 KB .mid audio)
- These are the holy Ten Commands
God gave to us by Moses' hands
When high on Sinai's mount he stood,
Receiving them for our good.
Have mercy, Lord! - "I am alone your God, the Lord;
No other gods shall be adored.
But you shall fully trust in Me
And love Me wholeheartedly."
Have mercy, Lord! - "Do not My holy name disgrace,
Do not My Word of truth debase.
Praise only that as good and true
Which I Myself say and do."
Have mercy, Lord! - "You shall observe the worship day
That peace may fill your home, and pray,
And put aside the work you do,
So that God may work in you."
Have mercy, Lord! - "You are to honor and obey
Your father, mother, ev'ry day,
Serve them each way that comes to hand;
You'll then live long in the land."
Have mercy, Lord! - "You shall not murder, hurt, nor hate;
Your anger dare not dominate.
Be kind and patient; help, defend,
And treat your foe as your friend."
Have mercy, Lord! - "Be faithful to your marriage vow;
No lust or impure thoughts allow.
Keep all your conduct free from sin
By self-controlled discipline."
Have mercy, Lord! - "You shall not steal or take away
What others worked for night and day,
But open wide a gen'rous hand
And help the poor in the land."
Have mercy, Lord! - "Bear no false witness nor defame
Your neighbor nor destroy his name,
But view him in the kindest way;
Speak truth in all that you say."
Have mercy, Lord! - "You shall not crave your neighbor's house
Nor covet money, goods or spouse.
Pray God He would your neighbor bless
As you yourself wish success."
Have mercy, Lord! - You have this Law to see therein
That you have not been free from sin
But also that you clearly see
How pure toward God life should be.
Have mercy, Lord! - Our works cannot salvation gain;
They merit only endless pain.
Forgive us, Lord! To Christ we flee,
Who pleads for us endlessly.
Have mercy, Lord!
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