The Moral Law
Summary in Decalogue
Law and Gospel · 6 verses
The Ten Commandments constitute the distilled essence of moral obligation, a divine epitome of comprehensive duty toward God and neighbor. While the entire law expands upon these principles, the Decalogue provides the categorical framework within which all particular duties find their proper place. These ten words, spoken by God Himself and inscribed by His finger, possess unique authority as the summary expression of perpetual moral obligation.
Scripture References
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
“Thou shalt not kill.”
“These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.”
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
“For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”