The Ninth Commandment

You must not desire your neighbor’s house. (Exodus 20:17)

What does this mean?

We must fear and love God, so that we will not attempt to trick our neighbor out of his inheritance or house, take it by pretending to have a right to it, etc. but help him to keep & improve it.

The Tenth Commandment

You must not desire your neighbor’s wife, servant, maid, animals or anything that belongs to him. (Exodus 20:17)

What does this mean?

We must fear and love God, so that we will not release our neighbor’s cattle, take his employees from him or seduce his wife, but urge them to stay and do what they ought to do.

The Conclusion to the Commandments

What does God say to us about all these commandments?

This is what He says:  “I am the Lord Your God.  I am a jealous God.  I plague the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who hate me with their ancestor’s sin.  But I make whole those who love me for a thousand generations.” (Exodus 20:5)

What does it mean?

God threatens to punish everyone who breaks these commandments.  We should be afraid of His anger because of this and not violate such commandments.  But He promises grace and all good things to those who keep such commandments.  Because of this, we, too, should love Him, trust Him, and willingly do what His commandments require.

II.  The Creed
The Simple Way a Father Should Present it to His Household

The First Article
On Creation

I believe in God the Almighty Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth.

What does this mean?

I believe that God created me, along with all creatures.  He gave to me:  my body and soul, my eyes, ears and all the other parts of my body, my mind and all my senses.  He preserves them as well.  He gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and land, wife and children, fields, animals and all I own.  Every day He abundantly provides everything I need to nourish this body and life.  He protects me against all danger. he shields and defends me from all evil.  He does all this because of His pure, fatherly and divine goodness and His mercy, not because I’ve earned it or deserved it.  For all of this, I must thank Him, praise Him, serve Him and obey Him.  Yes, this is true!

The Second Article
On Redemption

And in Jesus Christ, His 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, descended to Hell, on the third day rose again from the dead, ascended to Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Almighty Father.  From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?