Catechism Question 10
Can you summarize what God’s law commands you to do?
All the law is summarized in these two commandments: You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
In this question, we are giving a brief summary of the law. This summary was given by Jesus Himself, so we know it is correct. Although there are many commands in God’s law which show us what it means to be perfect in holiness, love, and integrity, they can be summarized in two commands – love God with all we are, and love our neighbor like we love ourselves.
This question will allow us to quickly see how far short we fall of meeting God’s standard. We are commanded to love God perfectly, with everything we are and have, and to love our neighbors just as much as we love ourselves. If we could do these things, we would keep every individual law. If we do not (and we do not) then we will break the individual laws, and will lack holiness, love, and integrity.
Additional Questions:
What does God’s law require of us?
What are the two most important commands in God’s law?
What is a good summary of God’s law?
How did Jesus summarize God’s law?
Scripture References:
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Also see Mark 12:28-34)
Deuteronomy 6:5
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
Romans 13:9-10
The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Galatians 5:14
The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Questions for Further Discussion:
Why can we say that to love God with everything in us, and to love our neighbor as ourself is a summary of the whole law?
How do the Ten Commandments fit in these two commandments? To which of these two commandments do the first four of the Ten Commandments fit? To which do commandments five through ten fit?
Does anybody fulfill these two commandments? Do we ever love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, or our neighbor as much as we love ourselves? If we did, how would it look in our lives?
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 4 of the Heidelberg Catechism, question 42 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism and question 7 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg, Westminster Shorter or New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For a more in-depth discussion of how these two commands summarize the whole law, see the teachings “The Summary of God’s Law” (October 28, 2019), and “The Heart of God’s Law” (July 31, 2011).
Suggested Worship Song:
Love the Lord Your God (by Lincoln Brewster, 2005 Integrity Music)
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart, with all your soul
With all your mind, and with all your strength (2x)
(Chorus)
With all your heart, with all your soul
With all your mind, And with all your strength
Love the Lord your God
With all your heart, with all your soul
With all your mind, and with all your strength
I will serve the Lord
With all my heart, with all my soul
With all my mind, and with all my strength (2x)
(Chorus)
With all my heart, with all my soul
With all my mind, And with all my strength
I will serve the Lord
With all my heart, with all my soul
With all my mind, and with all my strength
I will love You (I will love You)
I will praise You (I will praise You)
I will serve You, Lord (I will serve You)
I will trust You, Lord (I will trust You)
And with all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind,
And with all my strength
With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind
With all my strength
I will love You Lord
With all my heart, with all my soul
With all my mind, and with all my strength (3x)