On the Commandments of God

COMPENDIUM

The Commandments of the Law of God are ten;

I am the Lord thy God:

1. Thou shalt not have any other God but Me.
2. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3. Remember to keep the feasts holy.
4. Honor thy father and thy mother.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit fornication.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's good.

These rules are called Commandments of God, because God Himself has stamped them on the mind and soul of every man, and promulgated them under the Old Law engraved on two tablets of stone, and Jesus Christ has confirmed them under the New Law. The Commandments of the first tablet are the first three, which regard God immediately, and the duties which we owe to Him. The Commandments of the second tablet are the last seven, which concern our neighbor and our duties towards him.

All men are bound to keep the Commandments, because all men must live according to the will of God, who made man, and a serious transgression of one single Commandment is enough to deserve hell. Moreover, there is no doubt that all men can obey God's Commandments, because He does not command anything that is impossible, and He gives grace to keep them to whoever asks Him for it in the way in which he ought.

In each Commandment, there are two sides to be considered, the positive, and the negative, i.e., what is ordered and what is forbidden.

CATECHISM

342. What is treated of in the third part of Christian Doctrine?

The Commandments of God and of the Church are treated of in the third part of Christian Doctrine.

343. How many Commandments of God's Law are there?

There are Ten Commandments of God's Law:

I am the Lord thy God:

1. Thou shalt not have any other God but Me.
2. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3. Remember to keep the feasts holy.
4. Honor thy father and thy mother.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit fornication.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's good.

344. Why are the Commandments of God so named?

The Commandments of God are so named because God Himself has stamped them on the soul of every man; promulgated them, engraved on two tablets of stone, on Mount Sinai, in the Old Law; and Jesus Christ has confirmed them in the New Law.

345. Which are the Commandments of the first tablet?

The Commandments of the first tablet are the first three, which directly regard God and our duties towards Him.

346. Which are the Commandments of the second tablet?

The Commandments of the second tablet are the last seven, which regard our neighbor, and our duties towards him.

347. Are we bound to observe the Commandments?

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.

348. Are we able to observe the Commandments?

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.

349. What, in a general way, should we consider in each of the Commandments?

In each of the Commandments, we should consider its positive part and its negative part, that is, what it commands and what it forbids.