Lesson 4 · Ages 13–18
Conscience and the Ten Commandments
The Commandments show the path of freedom, and a well-formed conscience helps us choose good and avoid evil.
God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses (Exodus 20). They are not random rules to spoil our fun. They are a path to freedom and a way to live as God’s children.
- Commandments 1–3 are about loving God: worship God alone, respect his name, and keep the Lord’s Day holy.
- Commandments 4–10 are about loving our neighbour: honour parents, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, and do not covet.
Jesus summed them up in two: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37–40).
Conscience is the inner voice where we hear God’s law, “man’s most secret core and sanctuary” (CCC 1776). We must always follow a sure conscience. But conscience can be mistaken, so we must form it through prayer, Scripture, the teaching of the Church, and good advice (CCC 1783–1785).
Today we face real challenges online, with friends, with substances, with honesty and purity. A well-formed conscience and regular Confession help us grow in freedom and in friendship with Jesus.
Test yourself
Sources: Exodus 20:1–17; Matthew 22:37–40; CCC 1776–1802, 2052–2074.