HenryWSC 42

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 42

Show Catechism Question

Is all the law summed up in a word? Yes: all the law is fulfilled in one word,
Gal. 5:14
. Is that a short and sweet word? Yes: for it is love; love is the fulfilling of the law,
Rom. 13:10
.
Is it our duty to love God? Yes: Take good heed to yourselves that ye love the Lord your God,
Josh. 23:11
. Must we love him with a sincere love? Yes: Grace be with them that love him in sincerity,
Eph. 6:24
. And with a B love? Yes; my soul thirsteth for God, for the living God,
Ps. 42:2
. And with a superlative love? Yes: There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee,
Ps. 73:25
. And is all this included in the first and great commandment? Yes: 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,
Matt. 22:37–38
. And is this the sum of our duty to God? Yes; for if any man love God, the same is known of him,
1 Cor. 8:3
. Must those who love God be careful to please him? Yes: Ye that love the Lord, hate evil,
Ps. 97:10
.
Is there good reason why we should thus love God? Yes: Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God,
Deut. 11:1
. For is he most lovely in himself? Yes: God is love,
1 John 4:8
. And most loving to us? Yes: we love him because he first loved us, 1
John 4:19
. Will he return our love? Yes: all things shall work together for good to them that love God,
Rom. 8:28
. And in the other world? Yes: for eye hath not seen what God hath prepared for them that love him,
1 Cor. 2:9
. Will you then love God above all? Yes: I will love thee, O Lord, my strength,
Ps. 18:1
. And pray to God to give you grace to love him? Yes: the Lord direct our hearts into his love,
2 Thess. 3:5
.
Is it our duty to love our neighbour too? Yes: He that loveth God, must love his brother also,
1 John 4:21
. Can we pretend to love God, if we do not love our neighbour? No: he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen?
1 John 4:20
. Is this the fulfilling of the law? Yes: all is comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,
Rom. 13:9
. James 2:8.
Gal. 5:14
. Is it the second great commandment? Yes: the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,
Matt. 22:39
. Is it an old commandment? Yes: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, I am the Lord,
Lev. 19:18
. Is it a new commandment? Yes: A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another,
John 13:34
.
Must we have a respect for all men? Yes: Honour all men,
1 Pet. 2:17
. Especially for all good men? Yes: we must honour them that fear the Lord,
Ps. 15:4
. Must we esteem one another? Yes: Let each esteem other better than themselves,
Phil. 2:3
. Must we sympathize with one another? Yes: Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep,
Rom. 12:15
. Must we please one another? Yes: for even Christ pleased not himself,
Rom. 15:2–3
. Must we help one another? Yes: Bear ye one another’s burdens,
Gal. 6:2
. Must we do good to one another? Yes: as we have opportunity we must do good to all men,
Gal. 6:10
. Must we pray for one another? Yes: Pray one for another that ye may be healed
James 5:16
. Must we love even our enemies? Yes: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
Matt. 5:44
.
Must you hurt nobody in word or deed? No: A citizen of Sion doeth not evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour,
Ps. 15:3
. Must you be true and just in all your dealings? Yes: that which is altogether just shall thou follow,
Deut. 16:20
. Must you bear no malice or hatred in your heart? No: for whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer,
1 John 3:15
.
Are we to love our neighbour as ourselves? Yes: for we are members one of another,
Eph. 4:25
. As truly as we love ourselves? Yes: Let love be without dissimulation,
Rom. 12:9
. And as fruitfully? Yes: Not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,
1 Cor. 10:33
. And as constantly as we love ourselves? Yes: Let brotherly love continue,
Heb. 13:1
. Ought we therefore to do as we would be done by? Yes: Whatsoever ye would that men should do to yon, do you even so to them,
Matt. 7:12
. Should we in our places promote Christian love? Yes: for every one that loveth is born of God,
1 John 4:7
. And will this be our comfort? Yes: Live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you,
2 Cor. 13:11
.
HenryWSC 42