Часть 3-я

About the union between faith and love 477. What is the action and fruit of true faith? The action and fruit of true faith in a Christian is love and good deeds corresponding to this love. “In Christ Jesus,” says the Apostle Paul, “neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has power, but faith working through love” (Gal. 5:6). 478. Is faith alone enough without love and good deeds? For a Christian, faith alone, without love and good deeds, is not enough. Faith without love and good works is ineffective and dead, and therefore cannot lead to eternal life. “He who does not love his brother remains in death” (1 John 3:14). “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? can this faith save him?... Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead” (James 2:14, 26). 479. Are love and good deeds enough without faith? It is impossible to be saved by love and good deeds without faith, because it is impossible for someone who does not have faith in God to truly love Him. In addition, a person damaged by sin cannot do truly good deeds unless he receives spiritual strength or the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. “Without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). “All who are established in the works of the law are under oath. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continually do all that is written in the book of the law” (Gal. 3:10). “We in the spirit wait for and hope for the righteousness of faith” (Gal. 5:5). “By grace you have been saved, through faith; and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8–9). 480. Can love be true without good deeds? Love that is not accompanied by good deeds is false. True love naturally manifests itself in good deeds. Lord Jesus Christ says: “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he loves Me... He who loves Me will keep My word” (John 14:21, 23). “This is the love of God, that they may keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3). “Let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). About God's Law and Commandments 481. How can good deeds be distinguished from evil deeds? Means for recognizing good and evil deeds: the internal law of God is the testimony of conscience, and the external law of God is the commandments of God. 482. What does the Holy Scripture say about the internal law of God? The Holy Scriptures say about internal law: “They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as evidenced by their conscience and their thoughts, now accusing, now justifying one another” (Rom. 2:15). 483. Why is an external law given if people have an internal one? The external law was given because people did not obey the internal law and, leading a carnal and sinful life, drowned out the voice of the spiritual law within themselves. Therefore, they were given an external reminder of it in the form of commandments. The external law was given “because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19). 484. How was the external law of God given to people? When the Jewish people descended from Abraham were miraculously freed from Egyptian slavery, then on the way to the land promised to them, in the desert, on Mount Sinai, God revealed His presence in fire and cloud and gave the law through the leader of the Israelites, the prophet Moses. 485. What are the main and general commandments of the law of God? The main and general commandments of the law of God are the following ten, which were written on two tablets (stone tablets): 1. I am the Lord your God; Let you have no other gods before Me. 2. Do not make for yourself an idol or any image of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth below, or that is in the water below the earth; do not worship them or serve them. 3. Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 4. Remember the day of rest to keep it holy; Six days you shall work and do all your work in them, but the seventh day is a rest for the Lord your God. 5. Honor your father and your mother, so that it may go well with you and that your days on earth may be lengthened. 9. Do not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house; You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his field, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any of his livestock, nor anything that is your neighbor’s (Ex. 20:1–17). 486. Should we act according to these commandments if they were given to another people? These commandments were given to the people of Israel, but we should also act according to them, because in essence they are the same law, which, according to the Apostle Paul, is written in the hearts of all people, so that everyone should act according to it. 487. Did Jesus Christ teach to act according to the Ten Commandments? The Lord Jesus Christ instructed to keep the commandments in order to acquire eternal life, taught to understand and fulfill them more perfectly than they were understood before Him (see Matthew 19:17 and Chapter 5). On the division of the commandments into two tablets 488. What does the division of the commandments into two tablets mean? The division of the commandments into two tablets means that they contain two types of love, i.e. love for God and love for neighbor, and therefore two types of duties are prescribed. 489. To the question: what is the greatest commandment in the law? – The Lord Jesus Christ answered: “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 greatest commandment. The second is similar to it: love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36–40). 490. Who are our neighbors? All people are our neighbors. Because everyone is the creation of one God and originated from one person. But those who are related in faith are especially close to us, as children of the one Heavenly Father by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 491. Why is there no commandment about loving yourself? There is no commandment about loving oneself because even without the commandment, by nature, “no one has ever hated his own flesh, but feeds and warms it” (Eph. 5:29). 492. What should be the order in love for God, for one’s neighbor and for oneself? You should love yourself only for God and partly for your neighbors, you should love your neighbors for God, and you need to love God most of all for Himself. Self-love should be sacrificed to love for others, and love for oneself and neighbors should be sacrificed to love of God. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me,” says Jesus Christ, “is not worthy of Me; and whoever loves a son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). 493. If the whole law consists of two commandments, then why divide it into ten? Although the entire Law consists of two commandments, they are nevertheless divided into ten in order to more clearly present our duties to God and neighbor. 494. What commandments set out our duties towards God? The duties to God are outlined in the first four commandments. 495. What are our duties towards God? The first commandment commands us to know and honor the true God. Secondly, avoid false worship of God. In the third - do not violate the worship of God even with a word. The fourth is to maintain order in time and in matters of worship. 496. Which commandments set out our duties towards our neighbors? Responsibilities to others are set out in the last six commandments. 497. What are our duties towards our neighbors? The fifth commandment commands us to love and honor our neighbors, especially our loved ones, starting with our parents. The sixth commandment is not to harm the lives of others. Seventh, do not harm the purity of their morals. Eighth - do not harm their property. In the ninth - do not harm them with words. Tenth, don’t even want to harm them. 498. What are our duties towards ourselves? As for the responsibilities towards ourselves, they are contained in the commandments about neighbors, because one should love one’s neighbor just as oneself. 499. What does the words “I am the Lord your God” mean? – God, as it were, points to Himself to man and, therefore, commands him to know the Lord as God. 500. How should we know God? From the command to know God one can derive special duties: to learn the knowledge of God as the most important of all knowledge; diligently listen to teachings about God and His works in the Church and pious conversations about this at home; read or listen to books that teach the knowledge of God, firstly, the Holy Scriptures, and secondly, the writings of the holy fathers. 501. What is prescribed by the words “thou shalt have no other gods before Me”? With the words, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me,” is ordered to turn and strive for the one true God, or, what is the same, to reverently honor Him. 502. What duties relate to internal worship of God? Internal worship includes the following duties: to believe in God; walk before God, that is, remember God and always act prudently, because He sees not only deeds, but also our innermost thoughts; to fear God, or to revere Him, that is, to consider the wrath of the Heavenly Father to be the greatest misfortune for oneself, and therefore try not to anger Him; hope in God; love God; to obey God, that is, to constantly be ready to do what He commands, and not to grumble when He does to us not what we would like; worship God as the highest being; glorify God as all-perfect; thank God as Creator, Provider and Savior; call on God as an all-good and all-powerful helper in every good undertaking. 503. What duties relate to external worship of God? The following duties include external worship of God: to confess God, that is, to acknowledge that He is our God, and not to renounce Him, even if for His confession one would have to suffer and die; participate in public worship established by God and established by the Orthodox Church. 504. What are the sins against the first commandment? The sins against the first commandment are as follows: 1. Atheism, when people, rightly called crazy by the psalmist, wanting to get rid of the fear of God's judgment, say “in their hearts: there is no God” (Ps. 13:1). 2. Polytheism, when instead of the one true God, many imaginary deities are recognized. 3. Unbelief, when, recognizing that God exists, they do not believe His providence and revelation. 4. Heresy, when people mix in the teachings of faith opinions that contradict Divine truth. 5. Schism, i.e. willful deviation from the unity of worship and from the Orthodox Catholic Church of God. 6. Apostasy, when they renounce the true faith out of fear or for profit. 7. Despair, when there is no hope at all of receiving grace and salvation from God. 8. Magic, when, abandoning faith in the power of God, they believe in the secret and mostly evil forces of creatures, and especially evil spirits, and try to act with them. 9. Superstition, when they believe that some ordinary thing has Divine power, and they rely on it instead of God or fear it (for example, they believe an old book and think that only by it, and not by a new one, can one be saved, although the new one contains the same teaching and the same worship). 10. Laziness in relation to the teaching of piety, prayer and public worship. 11. Love for anything more than for God. 12. People-pleasing, when people are pleased to the detriment of pleasing God. 13. Reliance on man, when someone relies on the ability and strength of his or her own or other people, and not on the mercy and help of God. 505. Why do people-pleasing and human-reliance contradict the first commandment? Man-pleasing and human-reliance contradict the first commandment, because the person whom we please or in whom we hope and forget God, in some way is for us another god, instead of the true God. 506. The Holy Scriptures say this about pleasing people: “If I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10). 507. Holy Scripture speaks of human hope: “Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his support, and whose heart departs from the Lord” (Jer 17:5). 508. How to fulfill your duties before God? To fulfill your duties to God, you need to deny yourself. “If anyone wants to come after Me,” says the Lord Jesus Christ, “let him deny himself” (Mark 8:34). 509. What does it mean to renounce oneself? According to the explanation of St. Basil the Great: He who will renounce himself will defeat the old man, which is decaying in the seductive lusts, and will overcome all worldly addictions that hinder piety. Complete renunciation of oneself consists in being impartial to life itself and thinking, without relying on oneself, about death (Long Moral Answers, 8). 510. Does a person who renounces himself have any consolation? A person who has renounced himself and is deprived of many natural pleasures can have the grace of Divine consolation, which even suffering cannot disturb. “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, our consolation also abounds through Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5). 511. Who else should we honor without violating the first commandment? The commandment that prescribes to reverently honor the one God also corresponds to the correct veneration of Angels and saints, since we honor the grace of God that dwells and acts in them, and through them we ask for help from God. The second commandment speaks of an idol. The commandment explains that an idol is an image of some creature, heavenly or earthly, or living in water, which is worshiped and served instead of God. 513. What does the second commandment prohibit from worshiping? The second commandment forbids the worship of idols as false deities or as images of false gods. 514. Are sacred images prohibited in this way? It is not at all prohibited to have any sacred images. This is clearly seen from the fact that the prophet. Moses, through whom God gave the commandment prohibiting idols, at the same time received from God a command to place golden sacred images of cherubim in the tabernacle, or mobile Jewish church, and, moreover, in the inner part of the church, to which the people turned to worship God. 515. This example explains the correct usage in the Orthodox Church of Holy Icons. The word icon translated from Greek means image, or image. In the Orthodox Church, this is the name given to sacred images of God who appeared in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ, His Most Pure Mother and His saints. 517. Does the use of icons contradict the second commandment? “The use of holy icons would be contrary to the second commandment if they were idolized. But this commandment does not in the least contradict the veneration of icons as sacred images and their use for reverent remembrance of the deeds of God and His saints, since in this case the icons are like books in which faces and objects are written instead of letters” (see Saint Gregory the Great. Letters, book 9, letter 9, to the Bishop of Serena). 518. How should icons be venerated? Looking at icons, one should mentally see God and the saints depicted on them. 519. What is the name of sin against the second commandment? The sin against the second commandment is called idolatry. 520. What other sins violate the second commandment? In addition to gross idolatry, there are more subtle sins against the second commandment, which include: covetousness, or covetousness (the desire for material goods); gluttony, or delicacy, gluttony and drunkenness; pride, which also includes vanity. 521. Why does greed contradict the second commandment? Covetousness refers to idolatry. The Apostle Paul says that “covetousness...is idolatry” (Col 3:5). Because a selfish person serves wealth more than God. 522. What is the opposite of self-interest? The second commandment prohibits covetousness and thereby teaches non-covetousness and generosity. 523. Why does gluttony contradict the second commandment? Gluttony is related to idolatry, because gluttons place sensual pleasure above all else; therefore, says the apostle, their god is their belly (Phil. 3:19), or, in other words, their belly is their idol. 524. What is the opposite of gluttony? The second commandment, while prohibiting gluttony, teaches abstinence and fasting. 525. Why do pride and vanity contradict the second commandment? Pride and vanity are related to idolatry, because the proud person values ​​his abilities and advantages above all else, and thus they are an idol for him; and the vain person wants others to honor this idol. Pride and vanity were clearly manifested in the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, who erected a golden idol for himself and ordered everyone to worship it (see Dan, chapter 3). 526. What vice is close to idolatry? A vice close to idolatry is hypocrisy, when someone uses external acts of piety, for example, fasting and strict observance of rituals, to gain the respect of the people, without thinking about the internal correction of his heart (Matthew 6:5-7). 527. What is the opposite of pride, vanity and hypocrisy? The second commandment prohibits pride, vanity and hypocrisy and thereby teaches humility and doing good in secret. 528. When is the name of God taken in vain? The name of God is pronounced in vain when it is pronounced in useless and vain conversations, and even more so when it is pronounced falsely or in violation of reverence. 529. What sins are prohibited by the third commandment? The third commandment prohibits the following sins: blasphemy, or speaking impudently against God; murmuring against God, or complaints against His providence; blasphemy, when sacred objects are turned into a joke or a reproach; inattention to prayer; false oath, when one swears something that does not exist; perjury, when a fair and legal oath is not fulfilled; violation of vows made to God; oath, or the frivolous use of an oath in ordinary conversations. 530. What does Holy Scripture say about deity in conversations? In the Holy Scriptures there is a special prohibition against deification in conversations. The Savior says: “I tell you: do not swear at all... But let your word be: “yes, yes,” “no, no”; and anything beyond this is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:34, 37). 531. Is swearing prohibited in public affairs? Oathing in public affairs is not prohibited. The Apostle Paul says: “People swear by the highest, and an oath as confirmation ends all their disputes. Therefore, God, wanting to show the heirs of the promise the immutability of His will, used an oath as a means” (Heb. 6:16-17). From this it should be concluded that if God himself used an oath to ensure the firmness of the obligation, then all the more it is allowed and necessary for us, in important and necessary cases, at the request of the legal authority, to use an oath and oath, with reverence and with the firm intention not to betray it. 532. Why is it the seventh day that is commanded to be dedicated to God? The seventh, and not any other day of the week, is supposed to be dedicated to God because God created the world in six days, and on the seventh he rested from the works of creation. 533. How is the Old Testament day of rest - Saturday - celebrated in the Christian Church? Saturday, as a calendar day of the week, is not celebrated as a major holiday in the Christian Church. However, in memory of the creation of the world and in continuation of the original celebration, it differs from other days in that it is exempt from fasting. 534. How is the fourth commandment fulfilled in the Christian Church? In the Christian Church, every six days the seventh is celebrated, but not the last of seven days, or Saturday, but the first day of each week, or Sunday. 535. From what time is Sunday celebrated? Sunday Day has been celebrated since the resurrection of Christ. 536. What does the Holy Scripture say about the celebration of Sunday? The book of the Acts of the Apostles mentions the gathering of disciples, that is, Christians, in one place from the Sabbath, that is, on the first day of the week, or on Sunday, to break bread, that is, to celebrate the Sacrament of Communion (Acts 20:7). The Evangelist John also mentions the weekday, or Sunday, in the Apocalypse (Rev. 1:10). 537. In the Old Testament Church, were other days also meant under the name of Saturday? The name seventh day, or Saturday, in the Old Testament Church also meant other days established for celebration or fasting, for example, the holiday of Easter, the day of cleansing; so in the Christian Church, in addition to Sunday, other established holidays and fasts should be observed for the glory of God and in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos and other saints (Orthodox Confession, part 3, question 60; part 1, question 88). 538. What are the most important holidays established in the Orthodox Church? The most important holidays are holidays established in memory of the main events related to the saving incarnation of the Son of God for us and to the appearances of the Divine; and then established in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos as having served the mystery of the Incarnation. These are, in order of events, the following holidays: Day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8/21). The day of Her introduction into the church for dedication to God (November 21/December 4). Day of the Annunciation, that is, the angelic announcement to the Blessed Virgin about the incarnation of the Son of God from Her (March 25/April 7). Christmas Day (December 25/January 7). The day of the baptism of the Lord and together - the Epiphany of the Most Holy Trinity (January 6/19). Day of the meeting (meeting) of the Lord in the church by Simeon (February 2/15). Day of the Transfiguration of the Lord (August 6/19). The day of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem (seven days before Easter, on Sunday). The holiday of the Resurrection of Christ, Easter, the holiday of holidays, the beginning of an eternal holiday, eternal bliss. The day of the Lord's Ascension into heaven (on the 40th day after Easter, Thursday). Feast of the Holy Trinity, and then - a holiday in memory of the descent of the Holy Spirit (on the 50th day after Easter, on Sunday). Day of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15/28). Day of the exaltation of the Cross of the Lord, found by Queen Helena (September 14/27). 539. What is the most important post in the Orthodox Church? The most important fast is Lent, or Holy Pentecost. 540. Why is Lent called Lent? Lent is called Lent because it lasts forty days, excluding the week of Christ's suffering (Holy Week). 541. Why does Lent last forty days? Great Lent lasts forty days, since the Lord Jesus Christ Himself fasted for forty days (see Matthew 4:2). 542. Why is it necessary to fast on Wednesday and Friday? It is necessary to fast on Wednesday - in remembrance of the betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ to suffer, and on Friday - in memory of His very suffering and death. 543. Why are other posts established in the Orthodox Church? The Nativity and Dormition fasts were established in order to honor the feasts of the Nativity of Christ and the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos following these fasts by the preliminary feat of abstinence; and fasting in memory of the holy apostles - to imitate the apostles who fasted, preparing themselves for the work of the Gospel preaching (Acts 13:3). 544. How should holidays be spent? Holidays should be spent in the following way: you should not work or do worldly and everyday affairs on these days; one must keep them holy, that is, perform holy and spiritual deeds on these days, for the glory of God. 545. Why is it forbidden to work on holidays? It is forbidden to work on holidays in order to freely perform holy and godly deeds. 546. What should you do on holidays? On holidays you should: come to church for public worship and teaching in the word of God; also practice prayer and reading or soul-saving conversations at home; dedicate to God a part of your property and use it for the needs of the Church and those serving it and for the benefit of the poor; visit the sick and those imprisoned and do other acts of Christian love. 547. Should the same be done on weekdays? Such things can be done on weekdays - and it’s good who can do it. And those who are hindered by work should at least sanctify holidays with such activities. You should definitely pray every day, morning and evening, before and after lunch and dinner, and, if possible, at the beginning and at the end of any task. 548. Why are vicious deeds especially sinful on holidays? Those who on holidays allow themselves frivolous games and shows, secular songs, intemperance in food and drink, insult the sanctity of the holidays. If innocent and useful works are not in accordance with the Holy Days, then much less are the works useless, carnal and vicious. 549. Does the fourth commandment condemn idleness and absent-mindedness? When the fourth commandment speaks of six days of work, it, without a doubt, condemns those who do not work on weekdays, but are engaged in idleness and empty pastime. 550. How does the Holy Scripture teach to treat parents? The fifth commandment prescribes special duties towards parents, teaches them to honor them: treat them respectfully; obey them; nourish and comfort them during illness and old age; after their death, as well as during life, pray for the salvation of their souls and faithfully fulfill their wills, which do not contradict the law of God and the civil law (see 2 Mac 12:43–44; Jer 35:18–19; St. John of Damascus. Sermon on the Dead). 551. How serious is the sin of disrespect for parents? As easy and natural as it is to love and honor our parents, to whom we owe our lives, so grave is the sin of disrespecting them. Therefore, in the Law of Moses, the death penalty was imposed for slandering one’s father or mother (see Ex. 21:16). 552. Why is the promise of prosperity and longevity attached to the fifth commandment? In order to induce an obvious reward to fulfill the commandment, which establishes the order of both family and social life. 553. How is the promise of prosperity and longevity fulfilled? The examples of ancient patriarchs and forefathers show that God gives special power to the blessing of parents (see Gen. ch. 27). “The father’s blessing establishes the children’s homes” (Sir 3:9). God especially preserves the life and arranges the well-being of those who honor their parents on earth; and, as a reward for perfect virtue, bestows immortal and blissful life in the heavenly Fatherland. 554. Why are parents mentioned first of all in the commandments about loving one’s neighbors? In the commandments that prescribe love for others, parents are first mentioned, because parents are naturally closest to us. 555. Who, besides parents, should we honor? In the fifth commandment, the name “parents” should be understood as all those who are instead of parents for us in different respects. 556. Who can be instead of parents for us? Instead of parents for us are: Fatherland, because it is a great family in which the Sovereign is the father, and the subjects are the children of the Sovereign and the Fatherland; shepherds and spiritual teachers, because through teaching and the Sacraments they give birth to us into spiritual life and educate us in it; seniors; benefactors; leaders in different ways. 557. How does Holy Scripture speak about respect for the Sovereign? Holy Scripture speaks about respect for the Sovereign: “Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities: for there is no authority except from God; the existing authorities have been established by God. Therefore, he who resists authority resists God’s ordinance” (Rom. 13:1–2). “Therefore we must obey, not only out of fear of punishment, but also out of conscience” (Rom. 13:5). “Fear, my son, the Lord and the king; Do not associate with rebels” (Proverbs 24:21). “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's” (Matthew 22:21). “Fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17). 558. How far should our love for the Sovereign and the Fatherland extend? Our love for the Sovereign and the Fatherland should extend to the point of being ready to give our lives for them (see John 15:13). 559. How does Holy Scripture speak about respect for shepherds and spiritual teachers? The Holy Scripture says this about respect for shepherds and spiritual teachers: “Obey your leaders and be submissive: for they are vigilantly watching over your souls, as those who must give an account; so that they do this with joy, and not groaning: for this is not profitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). 560. How does Holy Scripture speak about respect for elders? In the Holy Scriptures there is a special instruction to honor elders, just like parents. The Apostle Paul writes to the Apostle Timothy: “Do not reproach an elder, but exhort him as a father; younger ones, like brothers; old women as mothers; young as sisters” (1 Tim. 5:1–2). “Before the old man stand up and honor the face of the old man, and fear the (Lord) your God” (Lev 19:32). 561. How does Holy Scripture speak about respect for benefactors? You can make sure that benefactors should be revered as parents by the example of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who obeyed Joseph, despite the fact that Joseph was not His father, but only a teacher (see Luke 2:51). 562. Who else should be revered like parents? There are also rulers who should be honored after parents, like them. These are those who take care of our pious upbringing, that is, teachers and mentors; who protects us from unrest and disorder in society, i.e. civil leaders; those who protect us from injury by the power of laws, i.e. judges; those to whom the Sovereign entrusts the preservation and protection of public security from enemies, i.e. military commanders. 563. How does Holy Scripture speak about respect for those in authority? The Holy Scriptures say about duties towards various kinds of superiors: “Give everyone their due: give to whom, give; to whom quitrent, quitrent; to whom fear, fear; to whom is honor, honor” (Rom. 13:7). 564. Holy Scripture says this about the subordination of servants and slaves to masters: “Slaves, submit to your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ, not with visible obsequiousness, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:5-6). “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh” (1 Peter 2:18). 565. What duties are prescribed in relations with children? Holy Scripture prescribes responsibilities towards children, corresponding to responsibilities towards parents. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). 566. How does Holy Scripture instruct spiritual shepherds to treat their flock? The Holy Scriptures say this about the duty and responsibilities of shepherds towards their spiritual flock: “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, overseeing it, not under compulsion, but willingly and in a godly manner, not for vile gain, but out of zeal, and not lording it over the inheritance of God, but being an example to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3). 567. How does Holy Scripture speak about the duties of rulers and rulers? The Holy Scriptures say this about the duties and responsibilities of rulers and rulers: “Masters, show to your slaves what is due and just, knowing that you also have a Lord in heaven” (Col 4:1). 568. How should we act when they demand from us something contrary to the Holy Scriptures? If it happens that parents or leaders demand something contrary to faith or the law of God, then you should tell them, as the apostles said to the Jewish leaders: “Judge whether it is right before God to listen to you more than to God?” (Acts 4:19). And one must endure for faith and the law of God whatever follows. 569. What is the name of the virtue that the fifth commandment requires of us? The virtue required by the fifth commandment is called obedience. 570. What does the sixth commandment prohibit? The sixth commandment prohibits murder, or taking the life of a neighbor in any way. 571. Is every murder a crime? Not every deprivation of life is a crime. It is not unlawful murder: when the criminal is punished by death according to justice; when they kill the enemy in a war for the Sovereign and the Fatherland. 572. How to treat unintentional murder? An involuntary killer, if he did not take the necessary precautions to prevent accidental murder, cannot be considered innocent. In any case, he needs to clear his conscience, as established by the Church. 573. What else applies to criminal murder? In addition to direct criminal murder with any weapon, the following, as well as similar cases, can be attributed to the same crime: when a judge condemns a defendant whose innocence is known to him; when someone hides or releases a murderer and thereby gives him the opportunity to commit new murders; when someone could save his neighbor from death, but does not, as, for example, if a rich man allows a poor man to die of hunger; when someone exhausts his subordinates with excessive hardships and cruel punishments and thereby accelerates their death; when someone shortens his own life through intemperance or other vices (intentional murder also includes abortions and advice to others to have an abortion - editor's note). 574. Why is suicide a grave sin? Suicide is the most criminal of murders. If it is contrary to nature to kill another person like us, then it is even more contrary to nature to kill oneself. Our life does not belong to us as property, but to God, who gave it. 575. Why are duels a grave sin? Since it is the business of the government to resolve disputes, but instead the participant in the duel willfully decides on such a matter in which both he and his opponent are threatened with obvious death, then the duel involves three terrible crimes: rebellion against the government, murder and suicide. 576. What is spiritual murder? In addition to physical murder, there is spiritual murder. A kind of spiritual murder is temptation, when someone seduces a neighbor into unbelief or draws him into lawlessness and thereby exposes his soul to spiritual death. The Savior says: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). 577. What else can be called the sin of murder? There are subtle types of murder. To some extent, this sin includes all deeds and words directed against love and unjustly violating the peace and security of a neighbor, and, finally, internal hatred against him, even if it is not revealed. “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). 578. How should we act to fulfill the sixth commandment? When it is forbidden to harm the life of a neighbor, it is thereby commanded to protect his life and well-being as far as possible. 579. In this regard, we must do the following: help the poor; serve the sick; comfort the sad; alleviate the situation of the unfortunate; treat everyone meekly, lovingly and edifyingly; make peace with those who are angry; forgive offenses and do good deeds to enemies. 580. What does the seventh commandment prohibit? The seventh commandment prohibits adultery. 581. What sins are prohibited under the name of adultery? The Apostle Paul advises not to tell Christians about these abominations (see Eph 5:3). Only out of necessity, to protect against these sins, it is necessary to name some of them: fornication, or carnal love between people who are not in marriage; adultery, when those in a marriage turn their marital love to strangers; incest, when close relatives unite in a union similar to a marital one. 582. What applies to adultery? The Savior teaches us to judge adultery in this way: “Whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). 583. How should one avoid internal adultery? In order not to fall into subtle, internal adultery, one should avoid everything that can arouse bad desires in the heart: voluptuous songs, dancing, foul language, frivolous games and jokes, drunkenness, shameless shows, reading books that describe unclean love. According to the Gospel, one should not look at all what seduces. “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you: for it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:29). 584. What does it mean to pluck out a tempting eye? To tear out a tempting eye means that one must tear it out not by hand, but by will. He who does not look at what seduces has already torn out his seducing eye. 585. What is the opposite of the sin of adultery? When the sin of adultery is prohibited, the following virtues are prescribed: marital love and fidelity, and for those who can tolerate it, perfect purity and chastity. 586. What kind of relationship should there be between husband and wife? The Holy Scriptures speak about the duties of husband and wife: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her” (Eph. 5:25). “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord; because the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, and he is the savior of the body” (Eph. 5:22–23). 587. How should one avoid fornication? In order to avoid fornication and live chastely, the Holy Scripture commands to keep our bodies clean (both spiritual and physical), because they “They are members of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit; on the contrary, the fornicator sins against his own body.” , that is, it corrupts him, infects him with diseases and damages even his mental faculties: imagination and memory (see 1 Cor. 6:15, 18–19). 588. What is prohibited by the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment generally prohibits stealing, or appropriating in any way what belongs to others. 589. What are the main sins prohibited by the eighth commandment? There are special sins forbidden by this commandment. The most important of them are: robbery, or the taking of someone else's property explicitly, by force; theft, or stealing someone else's thing secretly; deception, or the appropriation of something of someone else's by cunning, when, for example, they give counterfeit money instead of real ones, bad goods instead of good ones, by means of false weight or measure they do not deliver what was sold, they hide their property in order not to pay debts, they do not fulfill what they promised under a contract or in a will; when they hide a thief and thereby deprive the victim of retribution; sacrilege, or the appropriation of what is dedicated to God and what belongs to the Church; spiritual sacrilege, when some give and others accept sacred positions not according to their merit, but because of self-interest; bribery, when they take remuneration from subordinates or defendants and, for reasons of self-interest, elevate the unworthy, acquit the guilty, oppress the innocent; parasitism, when, without performing work, they receive payment for it and, thus, steal both the payment and the benefit that their work could bring to society and the employer; also, when those who have the strength to acquire food by labor live instead by alms; extortion, when, under the guise of legality, but in fact in violation of justice and humanity, they appropriate someone else’s property or someone else’s labor, or even use the very misfortunes of their neighbors for their own benefit; for example, when those who give loans burden debtors with an increase in the loan, when owners exhaust those who depend on them with unnecessary taxes or work, if during a famine they sell grain at too high a price. 590. What virtues correspond to the eighth commandment? When these sins are prohibited, the following virtues are prescribed: unselfishness; loyalty ; justice; charity to the poor. 591. Is unmercy towards the poor a sin against the eighth commandment? He who is unmerciful to the poor sins against the eighth commandment if he has anything to do to help them. All that we have belongs to God, and the excess is given to us by the providence of God to help the poor; and therefore, if we do not give them from our surplus, then we steal or hide their property and the gift of God. 592. What virtue is opposite to sins against the eighth commandment? Virtue, offered by the Gospel not as an obligation for everyone, but as advice to those zealous for the deeds of piety, is complete non-acquisitiveness, or voluntary renunciation of all property. “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21). 593. What is prohibited by the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment prohibits false witness against one's neighbor, as well as all lies. 594. What are the types of false testimony? It is prohibited under the name of false evidence: false judicial evidence, when someone in court is falsely denounced, complained about, or falsely testified about something; false testimony outside of court, when someone is slandered in absentia, or someone is unfairly blamed to his face. 595. Is it possible to reproach people if they have vices? It is not permissible to reproach others for their vices. The Gospel does not allow us to judge the vices or shortcomings of our neighbors, unless we are called to expose them by a special duty, but to correct our neighbors by an example of meekness: “Judge not, lest ye be judged” (Matthew 7:1). 596. Is it a sin to lie without the desire to harm your neighbor? It is also impermissible to lie if there is no intention to harm your neighbor. Because any lie is contrary to love and respect for one’s neighbor and is unworthy of a person, especially a Christian, created for truth and love. “Therefore, putting away lies, speak the truth, every one of you, to his neighbor; for we are members of one another” (Eph. 4:25). 597. How to avoid sin against the ninth commandment? To avoid sins against the ninth commandment, you should “bridle the tongue. If anyone loves life and wants to see good days, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking evil” (1 Pet. 3:10). “If anyone among you thinks that he is godly and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his godliness is empty” (James 1:26). 598. What is prohibited by the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment prohibits desires and associated thoughts that are contrary to love for one's neighbor. 599. Why are not only deeds prohibited, but also desires? Not only evil deeds are prohibited, but also unkind desires and thoughts, firstly, because when there are unkind desires and thoughts in the soul, the soul already becomes unclean before God and unworthy of Him, as Solomon says: “The thoughts of evil are an abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 15:26). And therefore you need to cleanse yourself from these internal impurities, as the apostle teaches: “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). Secondly, because in order to prevent evil deeds, you need to suppress sinful desires and thoughts in yourself, from which, like from seeds, evil deeds grow, as it is said: “From the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, blasphemy” (Matthew 15:19). “Everyone is tempted, being drawn away and enticed by his own lust. Lust, having conceived, gives birth to sin; but sin that is committed gives birth to death” (James 1:14–15). 600. What passion is prohibited by the tenth commandment? When it is prohibited to desire anything that belongs to your neighbor, then envy is prohibited. 601. What thoughts and desires are prohibited by the tenth commandment? In words: Do not covet your neighbor’s wife - voluptuous thoughts and desires, or internal adultery are prohibited. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, nor his field, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any of his livestock, nor anything that is your neighbor—selfish and power-hungry thoughts and desires are prohibited. 603. What duties should be performed in accordance with the tenth commandment? In accordance with these prohibitions, the tenth commandment imposes on us the following duties: to maintain purity of heart; be content with what God sends us. 604. What is especially necessary to cleanse the heart? To cleanse the heart, it is especially necessary to frequently and diligently call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. You might be interested in: