The Heidelberg Catechism

Lord's Day 2

Question & Answer 3

Q: How do you come to know your misery?

A: The law of God tells me.¹

¹ Rom. 3:20; 7:7-25

Question & Answer 4

Q: What does God's law require of us?

A: Christ teaches us this in summary in Matthew ²²-
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind
and with all your strength.^1*
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it:
Love your neighbor as yourself.²
All the Law and the Prophets hang
on these two commandments.

¹ Deut. 6:5
² Lev. 19:18
^*Earlier and better manuscripts of Matthew 22 omit the words "and with all
your strength." They are found in Mark 12:30.

Question & Answer 5

Q: Can you live up to all this perfectly?

A: No.¹
I have a natural tendency
to hate God and my neighbor.²

¹ Rom. 3:9-20, 23; 1 John 1:8, 10
² Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7:23-24; 8:7; Eph. 2:1-3; Titus 3:3