Luther's Small Catechism
I. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS,
I am the Lord your God.
The First Commandment
You shall have no other gods before me.
What does this mean?
We should fear, love, and trust in God above all else.
The Second Commandment
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we do not use His name to curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive, but to call upon it in every trouble, to pray, praise, and give thanks.
The Third Commandment
Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and neglect His Word, but deem it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.
The Fourth Commandment
Honor your father and your mother, that your lives may be long on the earth.
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we do not despise or anger our parents and others in authority, but respect, obey, love and serve them.
The Fifth Commandment
You shall not kill.
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we do not hurt our neighbor in any way, but help him in every need.
The Sixth Commandment
You shall not commit adultery.
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we may lead a pure and decent life in our words and conduct, husband and wife love and respect each other.
The Seventh Commandment
You shall not steal.
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we do not take our neighbor's money or property, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his property and means of earning a living.
The Eighth Commandment
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we do not belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain his actions in the kindest way.
The Ninth Commandment
You shalt not covet your neighbor's house.
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we do not wish or seek to get what rightfully belongs to our neighbor, or go gain it under any false pretenses, but always help him to keep what is his.
The Tenth Commandment
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant or his cattle, or anything that belongs to him.
What does this mean?
We should so fear and love God that we do not force or coax away our neighbor's spouse, friends, or workers, but urge them to stay and remain faithful.
What Does God Say of All These Commandments?
Answer:
In Exodus 20 God says: “For I the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.”
What does this mean?
God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments. Therefore we should fear His wrath and not act contrary to what He commands. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep His commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him, and gladly keep His commandments.
II. THE APOSTLES' CREED,
The First Article
Creation.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
What does this mean?
I believe that God has created me and all that exists. He has given me and still preserves my body and soul, eyes, ears, all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses. He provides me with clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, spouse and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods. God also richly and daily provides all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from every evil. God does all this out of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all of this I surely owe it to Him to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.
The Second Article
Redemption.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead,
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and delivered me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with silver or gold, but with His holy and precious blood and His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be His, live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
The Third Article.
Sanctification.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, and sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day He will raise me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.
III. THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven.
What does this mean?
Here God tenderly encourages us to believe that He is truly our Father, and that we are His true children. We therefore are to pray to Him with complete confidence, just as children speak to their loving parents.
The First Petition
Hallowed be Thy name.
What does this mean?
God's name is indeed holy in itself; but we pray in this petition that it may become holy among us also.
How is this done?
God's name is kept holy whenever His word is taught in its truth and purity, and we as His children live in harmony with it. Help us to do this, heavenly Father! But whoever teaches or lives contrary to God's Word dishonors the name of God among us. Keep us from doing this, Heavenly Father.
The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
God's kingdom comes indeed without our prayer, of itself; but we pray in this petition that it may come us also to us.
How is this done?
God's kingdom comes to us when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life now on earth and in heaven forever.
The Third Petition.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What does this mean?
The good and gracious will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.
How is this done?
The will of God is done whenever He hinders and defeats every evil plan and purpose that would hinder us from hallowing the name of God and prevent His kingdom from coming to us, such as the will of the devil, of the world, and of our own flesh; and when He strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in His Word and in faith unto our end. This is His gracious and good will.
The Fourth Petition
Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean?
God gives daily bread, indeed without our prayer, even to the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to acknowledge it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
What is meant by daily bread?
Everything that belongs to the support and wants of this present life, such as food, clothing, house, fields, cattle, money, goods, a believing spouse, good children, trustworthy servants, pious and faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, education, honor, true friends, good neighbors, and so on.
The Fifth Petition
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
What does this mean?
We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny our requests on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, and we have not deserved them; but that He would grant us all things by grace; although we commit much sin, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. Therefore we will also both heartily forgive and readily do good to those who may sin against us.
The Sixth Petition
And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean?
God, indeed, tempts no one to sin; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our own flesh may not deceive us, nor lead us into error or unbelief, despair, and other great shameful sins; and though we be thus tempted by them, we may nevertheless finally prevail and gain the victory.
The Seventh Petition
But deliver us from evil.
What does this mean?
We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to Himself in heaven.
The Conclusion
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
What does this mean?
That I should be assured that these petitions are acceptable to our heavenly Father, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us so to pray in this way, and has promised that He will hear us. Amen, Amen; that is, Yes, yes, it shall be so.