March Questions

QUESTION 9: What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?a

Answer: First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God.b Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly.c Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his Word and works.d

Scripture: You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you. (Deuteronomy 6:13–14)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 51-62.
• b.) Joshua 24:15. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Deuteronomy 26:17. You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice. See also 1 Chronicles 28:9 and Matthew 4:10.
• c.) Deuteronomy 32:46. He said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law.” Psalm 16:4. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. See also Deuteronomy 12:32 and Matthew 28:20.
• d.) Deuteronomy 32:1-4. Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” Psalm 29:2. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. See also Deuteronomy 28:58-59, Job:36:24, Psalm 111:9, Psalm 138:2, Matthew 6:9, Revelation 4:8, and Revelation 15:3-4.

QUESTION 10: What does God require in the fourth and fifth commandments?a

Answer: Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lordand others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath.b Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.c

Scripture: You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:30)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 63-72.
• b.) Genesis 2:2-3. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Isaiah 56:2, 4, 6-7. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil… For thus says the Lord: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant… And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Hebrews 4:9-11. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. See also Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12.
• c.) Exodus 21:17. Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death. Leviticus 19:32. You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. Proverbs 1:8. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching. Romans 13:1. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Ephesians 6:1-3. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Colossians 3:20. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. See also Exodus 20:12.

QUESTION 11: What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments?a

Answer: Sixth, that we do not hurt, or hate, or be hostile to our neighbor, but be patient and peaceful, pursuing even our enemies with love.b Seventh, that we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to them.c Eighth, that we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.d

Scripture: For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 73-81.
• b.) Psalm 82:3-4. Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Matthew 5:21-22. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. See also Exodus 20:13, Proverbs 24:11-12, and Matthew 5:43-44.
• c.) Matthew 5:27-28. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor. See also Exodus 20:14, 1 Corinthians 6:18 and 2 Timothy 2:22.
• d.) Leviticus 19:13a. You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. Ephesians 4:28. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. See also Exodus 20:15, Deuteronomy 25:13-16, Psalm 62:10, and Proverbs 11:1.

QUESTION 12: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?a

Answer: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love.b Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us.c

Scripture: If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. (James 2:8)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism questions 82-87.
• b.) Zechariah 8:16-17. These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord. Ephesians 4:25. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. See also Exodus 20:16, Proverbs 14:5, and Proverbs 14:25. 
• c.) Job 31:29. If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him. 1 Timothy 6:6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. Hebrews 13:5. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” See also Exodus 20:17.

QUESTION 13: Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?a

Answer: Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed.b

Scripture: As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10- 12)

• a.) See also The Baptist Catechism QUESTION 88.
• b.) Ecclesiastes 7:20. Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Romans 3:9. What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin. James 3:2. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 1 John 1:8, 10. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. See also Genesis 6:5.