Q.99. What are the guidelines for the proper understanding of the ten commandments?
A. In order to understand the ten commandments properly, these guidelines should be followed.
1. The law is perfect and binds the whole person to observe it completely and, according to its standard, to be completely righteous, and perfectly obey every one of its obligations forever. On the negative side, the law forbids even the slightest or partial commission of any sin.[1]
| 1 | Psalms 19:7 | dummy text |
| James 2:10 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:21-22 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:28 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:37 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:44 | dummy text |
2. Since it is spiritual, the law involves our unders tanding, our will, our emotions and all the other faculties of the soul, as well as our words, actions, and self-expressions.[2]
| 2 | Romans 7:14 | dummy text |
| Deuteronomy 6:5 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 22:37-39 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:21-22 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:27-28 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:33-34 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:37-39 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 5:43-44 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 12:36-37 | dummy text |
3. Different aspects of one and the same thing ma y be required or forbidden in several different commandments.[3]
| 3 | Colossians 3:5 | dummy text |
| Amos 8:5 | dummy text | |
| Proverbs 1:19 | dummy text | |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | dummy text | |
| Exodus 20:3-5 | dummy text |
4. When something is required, the opposite is forbidden,[4] and where a specific sin is forbidden, its opposite is required.[5] In the same way, when a requirement of the law adds a promise of some blessing for obeying it, that promise also includes a threat for disobeying it,[6] and when a threat is added, an opposite promise is included.[7]
| 4 | Isaiah 58:13 | dummy text |
| Deuteronomy 6:13 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 4:9-10 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 15:4-6 | dummy text | |
| 5 | Matthew 5:21-25 | dummy text |
| Ephesians 4:28 | dummy text | |
| 6 | Exodus 20:12 | dummy text |
| Proverbs 30:17 | dummy text | |
| 7 | Jeremiah 18:7-8 | dummy text |
| Exodus 20:7 | dummy text | |
| Psalms 15:1 | dummy text | |
| Psalms 15:4-5 | dummy text | |
| Psalms 24:4-5 | dummy text |
5. What God forbids must never be done at any time or under any circumstances.[8] What he commands always remains an obligation,[9] although every particular obligation of the law does not apply in all circumstances or at all times.[10]
| 8 | Job 13:7-8 | dummy text |
| Romans 3:8 | dummy text | |
| Job 36:21 | dummy text | |
| Hebrews 11:25 | dummy text | |
| 9 | Deuteronomy 4:8-9 | dummy text |
| 10 | Matthew 12:7 | dummy text |
| Mark 14:7 | dummy text |
6. The prohibitions against specific sins and the commandments to observe specific obligations are typical and so cover not just those particular sins or obligations but all others of the same kind. They similarly include all the contributory causes, means, opportunities, and appearances related to these sins and obligations.[11]
| 11 | Matthew 5:21-22 | dummy text |
| Matthew 5:27-28 | dummy text | |
| Matthew 15:4-6 | dummy text | |
| Hebrews 10:24-25 | dummy text | |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:22 | dummy text | |
| Jude 23 | dummy text | |
| Galatians 5:26 | dummy text | |
| Colossians 3:21 | dummy text |
7. Since the provisions of the law apply not only to us but to everyone else, we must try to help others keep those provisions, in the context of our own position in life and theirs.[12]
| 12 | Exodus 20:10 | dummy text |
| Leviticus 19:17 | dummy text | |
| Genesis 18:19 | dummy text | |
| Joshua 24:15 | dummy text | |
| Deuteronomy 6:6-7 | dummy text |
8. Similarly, we must support others in keeping what the law commands them to do or not to do[13] and particularly by not joining them in doing what is forbidden to them.[14]
| 13 | 2 Corinthians 1:24 | dummy text |
| Hebrews 10:24 | dummy text | |
| 14 | 1 Timothy 5:22 | dummy text |
| Ephesians 5:11 | dummy text |