content/07/07.md
---
pagetitle: What is the preface to the Ten Commandments?
date: February 19, 2020
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---
#### Larger Catechism
<span class="q">Q 101.</span> What is the preface to the Ten Commandments?
<span class="q">A.</span> The preface to the Ten Commandments is contained in these words, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.[^fnref:wlc1] Wherein God manifesteth his sovereignty, as being JEHOVAH, the eternal, immutable, and almighty God;[^fnref:wlc2] having his being in and of himself,[^fnref:wlc3] and giving being to all his words[^fnref:wlc4] and works:[^fnref:wlc5] and that he is a God in covenant, as with Israel of old, so with all his people;[^fnref:wlc6] who, as he brought them out of their bondage in Egypt, so he delivereth us from our spiritual thraldom;[^fnref:wlc7] and that therefore we are bound to take him for our God alone, and to keep all his commandments.[^fnref:wlc8]
[^fnref:wlc1]: <div class="esv"><h5>Exodus 20:2</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p class="chapter-first" id="p02020002.01-1">“I am the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.</p> </div><h5>Deuteronomy 5:6</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p05005006.01-2">“‘I am the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc2]: <div class="esv"><h5>Isaiah 44:6</h5> <div class="esv-text"> <div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p23044006.07-1">Thus says the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>, the King of Israel<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and his Redeemer, the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> of hosts:<br /> “I am the first and I am the last;<br /> <span class="indent"></span>besides me there is no god. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc3]: <div class="esv"><h5>Exodus 3:14</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p02003014.01-1">God said to Moses, “<span class="small-caps">I am who I am</span>.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘<span class="small-caps">I am</span> has sent me to you.’” (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc4]: <div class="esv"><h5>Exodus 6:3</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p02006003.01-1">I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> I did not make myself known to them. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc5]: <div class="esv"><h5>Acts 17:24</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p44017024.01-1">The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,</p> </div><h5>Acts 17:28</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p44017028.01-2">for</p> <div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p44017028.02-2">“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;</p> </div> <p class="same-paragraph" id="p44017028.12-2">as even some of your own poets have said,</p> <div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p44017028.21-2">“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc6]: <div class="esv"><h5>Genesis 17:7</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p01017007.01-1">And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.</p> </div><h5>Romans 3:29</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45003029.01-2">Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc7]: <div class="esv"><h5>Luke 1:74-75</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p42001074.01-1"><span class="indent"></span>that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,<br /> might serve him without fear,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.</p> </div> </div><h5>Galatians 5:1</h5> <div class="esv-text"> <p id="p48005001.06-2"><span class="chapter-num" id="v48005001-2">5:1 </span>For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc8]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Peter 1:15-19</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p60001015.01-1">but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.</p> </div><h5>Leviticus 18:30</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p03018030.01-2">So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> your God.”</p> </div><h5>Leviticus 19:37</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p03019037.01-3">And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>.” (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>