"Luther wrote the Small Catechism for the home, so that parents could explain to their children in simple terms the most important things in the Christian faith. For Luther, the household is a house church.

"We can continue to use these things in our homes today. You can add Luther's table prayers to the ones your family may already be using. If you are not accustomed to praying in the morning or evening, Luther's brief prayers can strengthen your faith."

  --Timothy J. Wengert

Luther's Small Catechism

The Ten Commandments

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Bible reading: Exodus 32

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.

What does this mean?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice magic, lie or deceive, using God's name, but instead use that very name in every time of need to call on, pray to, praise, and give thanks to God.

Bible reading: Leviticus 24:10-16

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT

Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not despise God's Word or preaching, but instead keep that Word holy, and gladly hear and learn it.

Bible reading: Luke 10:38-42

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

Honor your father and your mother.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear and love God, so that we neither despise or anger our parents and others in authority, but instead honor, serve, obey, love, and respect them.

Bible reading: Luke 2:41-52

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT

You shall not murder.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear and love God, so that we neither endanger nor harm our the lives of our neighbors,but instead help and support them in all of life's needs.

Bible reading: Genesis 4:1-16

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT

You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear and love God so that we lead pure and decent lives in word and deed, and each of us loves and honor his or her spouse.

Bible reading: 2 Samuel 11

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT

You shall not steal.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear and love God, so that we neither take our neighbor's money or property nor cheat them by using shoddy merchandise or crooked deals to obtain it for ourselves, but instead help them to improve and protect their property and income.

Bible reading: Joshua 7:1

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light.

Bible reading: Luke 22:54-62

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT

You shall not covet your neighbor's home.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not try to trick our neighbors out of their inheritance or property or try to get it and the like, but instead be of help and service to them in keeping what is theirs.

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, workers, animals, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

What does this mean for us?

We are to fear and love God, so that we do not entice, force or steal away from our neighbors their spouses, workers, or livestock, but instead urge them to stay and remain loyal to our neighbors.

THE CONCLUSION

What then does God say about all these commandments?

God says the following; "I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the iniquity of parents to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments."

What does this mean for us?

God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. Therefore we are to fear God's wrath and not disobey these commandments. However, God promises grace and every good thing to all those who keep these commandments. Therefore we are to love and trust him, and gladly act according to God's commands.

THE FIRST ARTICLE

(On Creation)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?

I believe that God has created me together with all creatures. God has given me and still preserves my body and soul: eyes, ears, and all my limbs and senses; reason and all mental faculties. In addition, God daily and abundantly provides shoes and clothing, food and drink, house and home, spouse and children, fields, livestock, and all property--along with all necessities and nourishment for this body and life. God protects me against all danger and shields and preserves me from all evil. God does all this out of pure, fatherly, and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine at all!

For all of this I owe it to God to thank and praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true.

Bible reading: Psalm 8

THE SECOND ARTICLE

(On Redemption)

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also true human being, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.

He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person.He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his dominion, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as he has risen from the dead and lives and rules in eternity.

This is most certainly true.

Bible reading: Luke 23:39-46

THE THIRD ARTICLE

(On Being Made Holy)

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own understanding or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, mad me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith. Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins--mine and those of all believers. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead, and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life.

This is most certainly true.

Bible reading: Acts 2

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen Bible reading: Mark 14:32-42

THE INTRODUCTION

Our Father in heaven

What does this mean?

With these words God wants to attract us, so that we believe he is truly our Father and we are truly his children, in order that we may ask him boldly and with complete confidence, just as loving children ask their loving father.

THE FIRST PETITION

Hallowed be your name

What does this mean?

It is true that God's name is holy in itself, but we ask in this prayer that it may also become holy in and among us.

How does this come about?

Whenever the Word of God is taught clearly and purely, and we, as God's children, also lead holy lives according to it. To this end help us, dear Father in heaven! However, whoever teaches and lives contrary to God's Word dishonors God's name among us. Keep us from doing this, dear Father in heaven!

Bible reading: Acts 13:13-47

THE SECOND PETITION

Your kingdom come.

What does this mean?

In fact, God's good and gracious will comes about without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may also
come about in and among us.

How does this come about?

Whenever our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that through the Holy Spirit's grace we believe God's holy Word and live godly lives now on earth and forever in heaven.

Bible reading: Luke 15:8-10

THE THIRD PETITION

Your will be done
on earth as in heaven.

What does this mean?

In fact, God's good and gracious will comes about without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may also come about in and among us.

How does this come about?

Whenever God breaks and hinders every evil scheme and will of the devil, the world, and our flesh, that would not allow us to keep God's name holy and would prevent the coming of his kingdom. And God's will comes about whenever God strengthens us and keeps us steadfast in his Word and in faith as long as we live. This is God's good and gracious will.

Bible reading: Matthew 27:27-31

THE FOURTH PETITION

Give us today our daily bread.

What does this mean?

In fact, God gives daily bread without our asking, even to all the wicked, but we ask in this prayer that God would lead us to recognize what our daily bread is and to receive it with thanksgiving.

What, then, is meant by daily bread?

Daily bread includes everything our bodies need, such as food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, fields and livestock, money, property, an upright spouse, upright children, upright workers, upright and faithful leaders, good government, good weather, peace and order, health, decency, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

Bible reading: John 6:8-10

THE FIFTH PETITION

Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.

What does this mean?

We ask in this prayer that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins or deny these petitions on their account, for we are worthy of nothing for which we ask, nor have we earned it. Instead we ask that God would give us all things by grace; for we sin daily and indeed earn nothing but punishment. So on the other hand, we, too, truly want to forgive from the heart and do good gladly to those who sin against us.

Bible reading: Matthew 18:23-35

THE SIXTH PETITION

Lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean?

It is true that God tempts no one, but we ask in this prayer that God would preserve and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us or lead us into false belief, despair, and other great and shameful sins, and that, although we are tempted by them, we pray that we may overcome and win the victory.

Bible reading: Matthew 4:4-11

THE SEVENTH PETITION

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?

We ask in this 0prayer, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven may deliver us from all kinds of evil--affecting body or soul, property or reputation--and at last, when our final hour comes, may grant us a blessed end and take us by grace from this world of sorrow to himself in heaven.

Bible reading: Matthew 15:21-28

THE DOXOLOGY*

For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen

What does this mean?

That I should be certain that these petitions are acceptable to and heard by our Father in heaven,
for God himself commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Therefore we say, "Amen," "Yes, it shall be so."

*Some later editions of the catechism, printed after Luther's death, add this conclusion. Although found in Erasmus's editions of the Greek New Testament and in Luther's translation of that into German, Luther himself consistently followed the medieval practice and omitted it.

First: What is Baptism?

Baptism is not just plain water, but it is water used by God's command and connected with God's Word.

What then is this Word of God?

Jesus Christ our Lord says in Matthew 28:19,

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!"

THE BLESSINGS OF BAPTISM

Second: What does Baptism do for us?

Baptism brings about forgiveness of sins, redeems from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the Word and promise of God declare.

What is this Word and promise of God?

Our Lord Jesus Christ says in Mark 16:16

"The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned."

THE POWER OF BAPTISM

Third: How can water do such great things?

Clearly the water does not do it, but the Word of God, which is with, in and among the water, and faith, which trusts this Word of God in the water. For without the Word of God the water is just plain water and not baptism. But with the Word of God it is baptism, that is, a grace-filled water of life and a "bath of the new birth in the Holy Spirit."

As St. Paul says in Titus 3:5-8,

"God saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done,but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure."*

*In Luther's translation of Titus, the last line reads, "This is most certainly true," as in the explanations to the Apostles' Creed and the meaning of Amen in the Lord's Prayer.

THE MEANING OF BAPTISM FOR OUR DAILY LIFE

Fourth: What then is the significance of such a baptism with water?

Baptism means that the old person in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned through daily contrition (sorrow for sin) and repentance, and that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?

St. Paul says in Romans 6:3-4,

"Do you not know that all of us who have been partied into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with Christ through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."

Bible reading: Matthew 28:16-20

First: What is Confession?

Confession has two parts. One is that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor* as from God himself, by no means doubt but firmly believe that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.

Second: Which sins is a person to confess?

Before God one is to acknowledge the guilt for all sins, even those of which we are not aware, as we do in the Lord's Prayer. However, before the pastor we are to confess only those sins of which we are aware and feel in our hearts.

Third: How can we recognize these sins?

Here reflect on you place in life in light of the Ten Commandments: whether you are father, mother, son, daughter, employer or employee: whether you have been disobedient, unfaithful, lazy; whether you have harmed anyone by word or deed; whether you have been dishonest, careless, neglectful, wasteful, or done other wrong?

*The German term is best translated as 'confessor," that is, the person who hears the confession.

THE INSTITUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION

First: What is the sacrament of Holy Communion?

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

Where is this written?

The holy evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and the Apostle Paul tell us:

In the night
  in which he was betrayed,
  our Lord Jesus took bread,
  and gave thanks; broke it,
  and gave it to his disciples,
  saying: Take and eat;
  this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
  Again, after supper,
  he took the cup, gave thanks,
  and gave it for all to drink,
  saying: This is
  the new covenant in my blood
  shed for you and for all people
  for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

THE BLESSINGS OF HOLY COMMUNION

Second: What blessing do we receive through this eating and drinking?

The words "given for you" and "shed for you...for the forgiveness of sin" show us that forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation are given to us in the sacrament through these words, because where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation.

THE POWER OF HOLY COMMUNION

Third: How can eating and drinking do such great things?

It is certainly not the eating and drinking that does such things, but rather the words that are recorded: "given for you" and "shed for you...for the forgiveness of sin." These words, when accompanied by the physical eating and drinking, are the essential thing in the sacrament, and whoever believes in these very words has what they declare and state, namely, "forgiveness of sins."

THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION

Fourth: Who, then, is properly prepared to receive this sacrament?

Fasting and bodily preparation are in fact a fine external discipline, but a person who has faith in these words, "given for you" and "shed for you...for the forgiveness of sin," is really worthy and well prepared However, a person who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, because the words "for you" require nothing but hearts that believe.

Bible reading: Matthew 26:26-28

MORNING PRAYER

In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the sign of the holy cross and say:

Under the care of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you wish, you may recite this little prayer as well:

I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have protected me through the night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every danger, so that all my life and actions may please you. Into your hands I commend myself: my body my soul and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen

After singing a hymn, or whatever else may serve your devotion, you are to go to your work joyfully.

EVENING PRAYER

In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the sign of the holy cross and say:

Under the care of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen

Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you wish, you may recite this little prayer as well:

I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me this day. Forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously protect me this night. Into your hands I commend myself, my body, my soul and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen

Then you are to go to sleep quickly and cheerfully.

Bible reading: Psalm 78:1-8

TO ASK A BLESSING

The children and the members of the household are to come devoutly to the table, fold their hands, and recite:

The eyes of all look to you, 0 Lord,
  and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
  satisfying the desire of every living thing.

                 Psalm 145:15-16

Then they are to recite the Lord's Prayer and the following prayer:

Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these your gifts
which we receive from your bountiful goodness,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

THANKSGIVING

Similarly, after eating they should in the same manner fold their hands and recite devoutly:

Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
  for his steadfast love endures forever.
He gives to the animals their food,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Then recite the Lord's Prayer and the following prayer:

Lord God, heavenly Father,
we thank you for all your gifts,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Bible reading: Psalm 65:9-13