Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 52 of 107

What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?

A.The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.

Which Bible passages support this answer?

The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 52. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.

Psalm 95:2-3, 6
²Let us enter his presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout out to him in celebration. ³For the Lord is a great God, a great king who is superior to all gods. ⁶Come, let us bow down and worship. Let us kneel before the Lord, our Creator. (NET)
Psalm 45:11
Then the king will be attracted by your beauty. After all, he is your master. Submit to him. (NET)
Exodus 34:13-14
¹³Rather you must destroy their altars, smash their images, and cut down their Asherah poles. ¹⁴For you must not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (NET)

What does this answer mean?

Three reasons are attached to the second commandment. God's sovereignty over us: he is the ruler. His propriety in us: we belong to him. And his zeal for his own worship: he cares deeply how he is worshiped. These reasons explain why the commandment carries a warning and a promise.

What can we ask our children?

What does it mean that God is sovereign over us?
Whom do we belong to?
Why does God care how we worship him?

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 52 (fold-over card, question on the front)
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Memory cards for questions 51 to 60
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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.

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