The Ten Commandments
As the head of the
family should teach them in the simplest way to those in the household.
1. You shall have no other gods.
We should fear,
love and trust in God above all things.
2. You shall not misuse the name
of the LORD your God.
We should fear and
love God that we do not use his name to curse, swear, lie or deceive,
or use it superstitiously, but call upon God's name in every trouble,
pray, praise and give thanks.
3. Remember the Sabbath day by
keeping it holy.
We should fear and
love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it
as holy, and gladly hear and learn it.
4. Honor your father and mother,
that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.
We should fear and
love God that we do not dishonor or anger our parents and others in
authority, but honor, serve and obey them, and give them love and respect.
5. You shall not murder.
We should fear and
love God that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but
help and be a friend to him in every bodily need.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
We should fear and
love God that we lead a pure and decent life in words and actions,
and that husband and wife love and honor each other.
7. You shall not steal.
We should fear and
love God that we do not take our neighbor's money or property or get
it by dishonest dealing, but help him to improve and protect his
property and business.
8. You shall not give false
testimony against your neighbor.
We should fear and
love God that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him or
give him a bad name, but defend him, speak well of him and take his
words and actions in the kindest possible way.
9. You shall not covet your
neighbor's house.
We should fear and
love God that we do not scheme to get our neighbor's inheritance or
house or obtain it by false claims, but do all we can to help him
keep it.
10. You shall not covet your
neighbor's wife or his workers or his animals or anything that
belongs to your neighbor.
We should fear and
love God that we do not force or entice away from our neighbor his
wife, workers or animals, but urge them to stay and do their duty.
CONCLUSION: "I, the LORD
your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the
fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but
showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments."
God threatens to
punish all who transgress these commandments. Therefore we should
fear his anger and not disobey what he commands. But he promises
grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments.
Therefore we should love and trust in him, and gladly obey what he commands.
Board for Parish Education Wisconsin Evangelical
Lutheran Synod, Luther's Catechism
(Milwaukee: Northwestern Publishing House, 1982) 1-3