Commandment

The commandments, or "ten words" (Decalogue), sum up the Law given by God in the context of the Covenant with Israel. They represent the fundamental duties of the human person toward God and neighbor (CCC 2056–2058).

The Decalogue and the Covenant

The Ten Commandments must first be understood in the context of the Exodus, God's great liberating event. They point out the conditions of a life freed from the slavery of sin. They are a path of life, marking the implications of belonging to God through the covenant (CCC 2057, 2062).

The Law of Love

When asked which is the greatest commandment, Jesus summarized man's duties: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart... and your neighbor as yourself." The New Commandment to "love one another as I have loved you" fulfills and interiorizes the Old Law (CCC 2055, 1823).

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Ten Commandments still binding? Yes. The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are obligatory for Christians and that the justified person is still bound to keep them. They express the natural law knowable by reason (CCC 2068).

What happens if a commandment is broken? Breaking a commandment in a grave matter with full knowledge and consent constitutes a mortal sin, which destroys charity in the heart (CCC 1857).