- #GC181 Let us now see how this commandment addresses itself to us? As for the ceremony, it was abolished, for we have the accomplishment of it in Christ Jesus.
- #GC182 How? Our old man is crucified, through the power of His death, and through His resurrection we are raised up to newness of life (Rom 6:6).
- #GC183 What else is there here for us? That we observe the order constituted in the Church, to hear the Word of God, to engage in public prayers and in the sacraments, and that we do not contravene the spiritual order among the faithful.
- #GC184 And does the figure give us any further benefit? Yes, indeed. It should lead us to the truth, namely, that being true members of Christ, we should cease from our own works, and put ourselves under His government.
- #GC185 Let us come to the second table? It begins, "Honour thy father and thy mother."
- #GC186 What do you mean by "honour" That children be humble and obedient toward their parents, doing them honour and reverence, helping them and being at their command, as they are bound.
- #GC187 Proceed further? God adds a promise to the commandment, "That thy days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord thy God will give thee."
- #GC188 What does that mean? That God will give long life to those who honour their father and mother as they ought.
- #GC189 Seeing this life is full of misery, why does God promise man as a favour that he will live long? However miserable it may be, life on earth is a blessing from God to the faithful, if only for this reason, that in it God testifies to His fatherly love in supporting them in it.
- #GC190 Does it follow conversely, that the man who dies prematurely is cursed of God? By no means. Rather does it sometimes happen that the Lord withdraws from this world more quickly those whom He loves most.
- #GC191 In so doing, how does He fulfill His promise? All that God promises us in earthly blessings, we must receive under this condition, viz. that it is expedient for our spiritual salvation. For it would be poor indeed if that did not precedence.
- #GC192 What of those who are rebellious against their father and mother? Not only will God punish them at the last judgment, but here also God will exercise judgment on their bodies, it may be by letting them die before their time, or ignominiously, or in some other way.
- #GC193 Does He not speak expressly of the land of Canaan in this promise? Yes, so far as the children of Israel are concerned, but the term ought to have a more general meaning for us. For seeing that the earth is the Lord's, whatever be the country we inhabit, He assigns i...
- #GC194 Is that all there is to the commandment? Though father and mother only are mentioned, nevertheless all superiors are intended, as the reason is the same.
- #GC195 What is the reason? That God has given them pre-eminence; for there is no authority whether of parents, or princes, or of any others who are over us, but what God has ordained (Rom 13:1).
- #GC196 Repeat the sixth commandment? Thou shalt not kill.
- #GC197 Does it forbid nothing but murder? Yes, indeed. For seeing it is God who speaks, He gives us law not only for outward deeds, but primarily for the affections of our heart.
- #GC198 You mean then that there is some kind of inward murder which God forbids to us? I do: hatred and rancour, and desire to do evil to our neighbor.
- #GC199 Is it sufficient for us not to hate or to bear ill will? No, for in condemning hatred God signifies that He requires us to love our neighbours and seek their salvation, and all this with true affection and without simulation.
- #GC200 State the seventh commandment? Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- #GC201 What is the essence of this? That all fornication is cursed by God, and therefore we must abstain from it if we do not want to provoke His anger against us.
- #GC202 Does it not require anything else? We must always regard the nature of the Lawgiver, who does not halt at the outward act, but requires the affection of the heart.
- #GC203 What more then does it mean? Since our bodies and our souls are temples of the Holy Spirit (1Co 3:16, 6:15; 2Co 6:16), we must preserve them in uprightness. And so we must be chaste not only in deed, but also in desire, word and...
- #GC204 Let us come to the eighth commandment? Thou shalt not steal.
- #GC205 Is it only meant to prohibit the thefts which are punished by justice, or does it extend further? It refers to all civil traffic and unscrupulous means of acquiring our neighbour's good, whether by violence, or fraud, or in any other kind of way that God has not allowed.
- #GC206 Is it enough to abstain from evil deeds, or is covetousness also included here? We must ever return to this, that the Lawgiver is spiritual, that He does not speak simply of outward thefts, but all schemes, wishes and plans to enrich ourselves at the expense of our neighbour.
- #GC207 What are to do then? We must do our duty in preserving for every man his own.
- #GC208 What is the ninth commandment? Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- #GC209 Does it forbid perjury in court, or any kind of lying against our neighbour? In mentioning this one case it gives a general instruction, that we are not to speak evil of our neighbour falsely, nor by our slanders and lies are we do him harm in his possessions, or in his reputa...
- #GC210 But why does He expressly mention public perjury? That He may give us a greater abhorrence of this vice of evil speaking and slander, telling us that if a man accustom himself to slandering and defaming his neighbour, he will soon descend to perjury...
Showing 181 - 210 of 373