Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 42 of 107
What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A.The sum of the ten commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.
Which Bible passages support this answer?
The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 42. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.
- Matthew 22:37-40
37Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (NET)
What does this answer mean?
The Ten Commandments can themselves be summed up in two great commands: love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves. These are the words Jesus used in the Gospels. Love for God and love for neighbor sum up the whole law.
What can we ask our children?
- What are the two great commands?
- How many parts of us should love God?
- Who is our neighbor?
Can I print this question?
Yes. Every printable here is free for home, church and co-op use. Press Print on any of these pages for a clean sheet.
- Memory card for question 42 (fold-over card, question on the front)
- Copywork page for question 42 (trace, then copy)
- Memory cards for questions 41 to 50
- Copywork for questions 41 to 50
- All Westminster Shorter Catechism printables
Text: The Shorter Catechism, constitutional text of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Public domain (1647). Proof references: Scripture proofs added by the Westminster Assembly, as transcribed by The Westminster Standard. Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible; see permissions.
Checked against a second edition on November 15, 2026. Explanation and questions by Household Theology Press. Last updated November 15, 2026.