The Ten Commandments · piece 5 of 26
The Fifth Commandment
From Luther’s Small Catechism, 1529
Practice mode shows the first letter of each word. Say the line, then tap it to check.
You must not kill. (Exodus 20:13)
What does this mean?
We must fear and love God, so that we will neither harm nor hurt our neighbor's body, but help him and care for him when he is ill.
In plain words
God cares about every person’s body and life. Do not hurt or harm anyone’s body, with your actions or your words. Instead, help your neighbour and take care of them when they are sick or in need. Your neighbour means any person near you.
Our summary of Luther’s explanation, for reading after his words, not instead of them.
Where Jesus says it
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Luke 10:33–34 In Jesus’ story, a Samaritan stops to treat a hurt stranger’s wounds and takes care of him.
Read Luke 10:33–34
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Translated by Robert E. Smith for Project Wittenberg (revised 2004) and placed in the public domain by the translator. How we checked it, and the whole Catechism on one page