Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 41 of 107
Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A.The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
Which Bible passages support this answer?
The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 41. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.
- Deuteronomy 10:4
The Lord then wrote on the tablets the same words, the Ten Commandments, which he had spoken to you at the mountain from the middle of the fire at the time of that assembly, and he gave them to me. (NET)
- Matthew 19:17
He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (NET)
What does this answer mean?
The moral law is summarily comprehended, or summed up, in the Ten Commandments, which God gave at Mount Sinai. The commandments do not list every right and wrong, but they gather the moral law into ten short heads. Questions 45 to 81 walk through them one by one.
What can we ask our children?
- Where is the moral law summed up?
- Where did God give the Ten Commandments?
- How many of the ten can you name?
Can I print this question?
Yes. Every printable here is free for home, church and co-op use. Press Print on any of these pages for a clean sheet.
- Memory card for question 41 (fold-over card, question on the front)
- Copywork page for question 41 (trace, then copy)
- Memory cards for questions 41 to 50
- Copywork for questions 41 to 50
- All Westminster Shorter Catechism printables
Text: The Shorter Catechism, constitutional text of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Public domain (1647). Proof references: Scripture proofs added by the Westminster Assembly, as transcribed by The Westminster Standard. Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible; see permissions.
Checked against a second edition on November 15, 2026. Explanation and questions by Household Theology Press. Last updated November 15, 2026.