Catechism Question 54
How are the Ten Commandments divided?
The Ten Commandments are divided into two parts; the first teaches what we owe directly to God, and the second teaches what we owe to God in the way we treat our fellow humans.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
This question notes how the Ten Commandments are divided into two portions – the two tables of the law. The first, comprised of commands 1-4 (no other gods, no idols, don’t misuse God’s name, keep the Sabbath) all refer to our duties to God. The second, comprised of commands 5-10 (honor your father and mother, no murder, no adultery, no stealing, no bearing false witness, no coveting) all refer to our duties to our fellow humans – our neighbor.
Note that this means that the Ten Commandments themselves may be summarized by the two great commandments given by Jesus – love God and love your neighbor. All other commands relative to our responsibilities to God and to other humans flow from the two commandments. This principle is first seen in how the Ten Commandments further explain what is inherent in the two commandments given by Jesus. And as we will see in the coming questions, the same process is intended for the Ten Commandments themselves.
However, it should also be noted that while each of the sections has a primary focus, all of our obedience ultimately goes back to God. The reason we are to love our neighbor as ourselves is because God has commanded us to do so and because they are the image of God. Thus, to murder someone is wrong because God has commanded us not to do so and because to murder is to destroy the image of God.
Additional Questions:
What are the two major sections of the Ten Commandments?
Where are the two tablets of the Ten Commandments? What is commanded in each tablet?
Scripture References:
Exodus 31:18
When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.
Exodus 34:28–29
Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant — the Ten Commandments. 29When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.
Deuteronomy 9:15
So I turned and went down from the mountain while it was ablaze with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands.
2 Chronicles 5:10
There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.
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.”
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.
Questions for Further Discussion:
Why are the Ten Commandments a good summary of the whole moral law? Can other commandments regarding right and wrong moral conduct really be based on just these ten commands?
Why does Paul say in Romans 13:9-10 that love is the fulfillment of the law? Does this mean I can do whatever I want and just say I love God or the other person? What does it mean to say love is the fulfillment of the law?
Why is it important to understand that the Ten Commandments are not only specific commandments from God that we are called to keep and which show us holiness, but that they are also to be expanded to cover the whole law? Is this important, or should we just view them as separate commands without any relationship to the rest of the moral law?
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 93 of the Heidelberg Catechism and to question 42 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg or Westminster Shorter Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teachings “The Summary of God’s Law” (October 27, 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, scripture Luke 10:27)
(Note how this song summarizes the law as loving God, and then serving God. This is how to best view the Ten Commandments. The first section deals with our direct obedience to God, the second with how we obey God by loving our neighbor.)
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)