Q.50: Which is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

( Exodus 20:3 )

 

Q.51: What is required in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God and our God; and to worship and glorify Him accordingly.

( 1Chronicles 28:9; Deuteronomy 26:17; Psalm 29:2; Matthew 4:10 )

 

Q.52: What is forbidden in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God, as God and our God, and the giving that worship and glory to any other, which is due unto Him alone.

( Psalms 14:1; 81:10-11; Romans 1:21, 25-26 )

 

Q.53: What are we especially taught by these words “before Me,” in the first commandment?

A. These words “before Me,” in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other god.

( Ezekiel 8:5-18 )

 

Q.54: Which is the second commandment?

A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto the any graven image, or the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the father upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.

( Exodus 20:4-6 )

 

Q.55: What is required in the second commandment?

A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances, as God hath appointed in His word.

( Deuteronomy 32:46; Matthew 28:20; Acts 2:42 )

 

Q.56: What is forbidden in the second commandment?

A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in His word.

( Deuteronomy 4:15-19; 12:31-32; Exodus 32:5, 8 )

 

Q.57: What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us, His propriety in us, and the zeal He hath to His own worship.

( Psalms 45:11; 95:2-3, 6; Exodus 34:13-14 )

 

Q.58: Which is the third commandment?

A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.

( Exodus 20:7 )

 

Q.59: What is required in the third commandment?

A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God’s names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word, and works.

( Deuteronomy 28:58; Job 36:24; Psalms 68:4; 138:1-2; Malachi 1:11, 14; Matthew 6:9; Revelation 15:3-4 )

 

Q.60: What is forbidden in the third commandment?

A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning and abusing of anything whereby God makes Himself known.

( Malachi 1:6-7, 12; 2:2; 3:14 )

 

Q.61: What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?

A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment for men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape His righteous judgment.

( Deuteronomy 28:58-59; 1Samuel 2:12, 17, 22, 24, 29; 3:13 )