On the Commandments of God and of the Church
The Commandments of God in General
1 Q: What is treated of in the third part of Christian Doctrine?
A: The Commandments of God and of the Church are treated of in the third part of Christian Doctrine.
2 Q: How many Commandments of God’s Law are there?
A: There are Ten Commandments of God’s Law:
I am the Lord thy God:
1. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me;
2. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain;
3. Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath Day;
4. Honor thy Father and thy Mother,
5. Thou shalt not kill;
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery;
7. Thou shalt not steal;
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness;
9. Thou shalt not covet another’s wife;
10. Thou shalt not covet another’s goods.
3 Q: Why are the Commandments of God so named?
A: The Commandments of God are so named because God Himself has stamped them on the soul of every man; promulgated them, engraved on two tables of stone, on Mount Sinai, in the Old Law; and Jesus Christ has confirmed them in the New Law.
4 Q: Which are the Commandments of the first table?
A: The Commandments of the first table are the first three, which directly regard God and our duties towards Him.
5 Q: Which are the Commandments of the second table?
A: The Commandments of the second table are the last seven, which regard our neighbor, and our duties towards him.
6 Q: Are we bound to observe the Commandments?
A: Yes, we are bound to observe the Commandments, because we are all bound to live according to the will of God who created us, and because a serious transgression against even one of them is enough to merit hell.
7 Q: Are we able to observe the Commandments?
A: Yes, without doubt we are able to observe God’s Commandments, because God never commands anything that is impossible, and because He gives grace to observe them to those who ask it as they should.
8 Q: What, in a general way, should we consider in each of the Commandments?
A: In each of the Commandments we should consider its positive part and its negative part, that is, what it commands and what it forbids.