Luther's Little Instruction Book:
The Small Catechism of Martin Luther
Translation by Robert E. Smith From the German text, printed in:
Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Ev. Lutheran Church.
St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, pp. 538-559.
Note: This version of the Small Catechism is under continuousrevision. Please check your source for this file from time to time toobtain updated versions of this text.
Fort Wayne, Indiana: Project Wittenberg, 2004
I. The Ten Commandments
The Simple Way a Father Should Present Them to His Household
The First Commandment
You must not have other gods. (Exodus 20:3)
What does this mean?
We must fear, love, and trust God more than anything else.
The Second Commandment
You must not misuse your God's name. (Exodus 20:7)
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that we will not use His name to curse,swear, cast a spell, lie or deceive, but will use it to call upon Him,pray to Him, praise Him and thank Him in all times of trouble.
The Third Commandment
You must keep the Sabbath holy. (Exodus 20:8)
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that we will not look down on preachingor God's Word, but consider it holy, listen to it willingly, and learnit.
The Fourth Commandment
You must honor your father and mother. [So that things will go well foryou and you will live long on earth]. (Exodus 20:12)
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that we will neither look down on ourparents or superiors nor irritate them, but will honor them, servethem, obey them, love them and value them.
The Fifth Commandment
You must not kill. (Exodus 20:13)
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that we will neither harm nor hurt ourneighbor's body, but help him and care for him when he is ill.
The Sixth Commandment
You must not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that our words and actions will be cleanand decent and so that everyone will love and honor their spouses.
The Seventh Commandment
You must not steal. (Exodus 20:15)
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that we will neither take our neighbor'smoney or property, nor acquire it by fraud or by selling him poorlymade products, but will help him improve and protect his property andcareer.
The Eighth Commandment
You must not tell lies about your neighbor. (Exodus 20:16 )
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that we will not deceive by lying,betraying, slandering or ruining our neighbor's reputation, but willdefend him, say good things about him, and see the best side ofeverything he does.
The Ninth Commandment
You must not desire your neighbor's house. (Exodus 20:17)
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that we will not attempt to trick ourneighbor out of his inheritance or house, take it by pretending to havea right to it, etc. but help him to keep & improve it.
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