Catholic teaching
The Ten Commandments
The traditional Catholic catechism form of the Ten Commandments, with a closer look at each one: what it means, how to live it well, and the ways we can fall short. A helpful guide when preparing for confession.
Where the commandments come from
God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, and they appear twice in the Old Testament, in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. Jesus summed them up in two great commandments: love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37–40).
The first three commandments are about our relationship with God. The other seven are about how we treat one another. Catholics follow the numbering handed down from St. Augustine, so some other Christian traditions count them a little differently.
The First Commandment
I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.
Exodus 20:2–6; Deuteronomy 5:6–10
God alone deserves our worship and trust. This commandment asks us to give Him first place, so that nothing else, however good, becomes the center our lives revolve around.
Living it well
- Make daily prayer a habit, even if it is only a few minutes.
- Trust God in hard times rather than looking for security elsewhere.
- Grow in your faith through Scripture, the sacraments and learning what the Church teaches.
Ways we can fall short
- Letting money, work, status or pleasure become what we live for.
- Turning to horoscopes, fortune telling or superstition.
- Neglecting prayer, or deliberately doubting or rejecting the faith.
The Second Commandment
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11
A name stands for the person. Treating God's name with reverence is a way of honoring God Himself, along with the holy people, places and things connected to Him.
Living it well
- Speak about God, Jesus, Mary and the saints with respect.
- Keep the promises and vows you make, especially those made before God.
- Use God's name in prayer and praise rather than as an exclamation.
Ways we can fall short
- Using God's name carelessly, in anger or as a curse.
- Mocking or speaking with contempt about God or sacred things.
- Swearing an oath falsely or breaking a vow.
The Third Commandment
Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.
Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15
Sunday is the day of the Resurrection. The Church asks Catholics to worship together at Mass each Sunday and on holy days, and to make the day one of rest, family and renewal.
Living it well
- Attend Mass every Sunday and on holy days of obligation.
- Set aside unnecessary work and shopping so the day can be restful.
- Spend time with family, visit the sick or lonely, and enjoy God's gifts.
Ways we can fall short
- Missing Mass without a serious reason, such as illness or caring for someone.
- Arriving late or leaving early out of habit, or not paying attention.
- Making Sunday just another workday when it could be avoided.
The Fourth Commandment
Honor your father and your mother.
Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16
The family is where we first learn love. This commandment calls children of every age to respect and care for their parents, and it extends to all our family relationships and to those with rightful authority.
Living it well
- Show gratitude and respect to your parents, and care for them as they age.
- For parents: love, teach, guide and pray for your children.
- Respect teachers, employers and public authorities while working for what is just.
Ways we can fall short
- Being disrespectful, resentful or neglectful toward parents or family.
- For parents: failing to provide for, guide or spend time with children.
- Ignoring legitimate rules and responsibilities at home, work or in the community.
The Fifth Commandment
You shall not kill.
Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
Every human life is sacred because it comes from God. This commandment protects life from conception to natural death, and Jesus taught that it also reaches the anger and hatred that can grow in our hearts (Matthew 5:21–22).
Living it well
- Treat every person with dignity, especially the vulnerable, the unborn, the sick and the elderly.
- Look after your own health and safety.
- Work at forgiveness and peace in your relationships.
Ways we can fall short
- Harming or endangering others, or willingly supporting the taking of innocent life.
- Abusing alcohol or drugs, or reckless behavior that puts lives at risk.
- Holding on to hatred, wishing harm on others, or refusing to forgive.
The Sixth Commandment
You shall not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18
God created human love and sexuality as a gift. This commandment protects faithfulness in marriage and calls everyone, married or single, to chastity: using that gift with self-control and respect.
Living it well
- For the married: stay faithful in heart, word and action, and keep nurturing your marriage.
- Treat others with respect rather than as objects.
- Guard what you watch, read and imagine.
Ways we can fall short
- Unfaithfulness in marriage, including emotional affairs.
- Pornography or deliberately entertaining impure thoughts.
- Using another person for one's own pleasure.
The Seventh Commandment
You shall not steal.
Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 5:19
This commandment protects what rightfully belongs to others. It also calls us to honest work and to a generous spirit, since the goods of the earth are meant to serve everyone.
Living it well
- Be honest in your work, business and finances.
- Pay debts and keep agreements.
- Share generously with the poor and support good causes.
Ways we can fall short
- Taking what is not yours, including at work, online or through cheating.
- Wasting an employer's time, or not paying fair wages or debts.
- Damaging others' property, or keeping something you found when you could return it.
The Eighth Commandment
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20
God is truth, and we are called to live in the truth. This commandment asks us to be honest in what we say and to protect the good name of others.
Living it well
- Tell the truth, even when it is uncomfortable.
- Speak well of others and defend those who are being criticized unfairly.
- Keep confidences that have been entrusted to you.
Ways we can fall short
- Lying, exaggerating or deceiving.
- Gossip, or revealing others' faults without need.
- Spreading falsehoods that damage someone's reputation.
The Ninth Commandment
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21
Where the sixth commandment is about actions, the ninth looks into the heart. It calls us to purity of intention and desire, because what we dwell on shapes who we become (Matthew 5:27–28).
Living it well
- Practice modesty and custody of the eyes.
- Pray for a pure heart, and turn away from tempting thoughts quickly.
- Respect the marriages and relationships of others.
Ways we can fall short
- Deliberately dwelling on lustful desires.
- Pursuing or encouraging attraction to someone who is married.
- Seeking out material that feeds impure thoughts.
The Tenth Commandment
You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21
The tenth commandment guards against envy and greed. It invites us to be content and grateful, and to find our treasure in God rather than in possessions (Matthew 6:19–21).
Living it well
- Count your blessings and practice gratitude.
- Rejoice in other people's good fortune.
- Live simply and give generously.
Ways we can fall short
- Envy or resentment of what others have.
- Greed, or an excessive desire for wealth and possessions.
- Letting comparison and wanting more rule our choices.
Using the commandments before confession
Go through the commandments one at a time and ask yourself honestly where you have fallen short since your last confession. Our examination of conscience turns each commandment into simple questions to help you do this.