Overview

Having expounded the whole law (Q39–81), the catechism asks the inevitable question: can anyone keep it? The answer (Q82) is no — and this section draws out the consequences: not all sins are equally heinous (Q83), and every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse (Q84). These questions strip away self-righteousness and prepare the way for the gospel remedy of faith and repentance (Q85ff).

The Questions & Answers

Q82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…for there is no one who does not sin.” (1 Kings 8:46, ESV)

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8, ESV)

Further proofs: Eccl. 7:20; Gen. 6:5; Rom. 3:9–10, 23; James 3:2.

Q83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“…he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:11, ESV)

Further proofs: Ezek. 8:6, 13, 15; 1 John 5:16; Ps. 78:17, 32, 56; Luke 12:47–48.

Q84. What doth every sin deserve? A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.

Scripture Proofs (ESV):

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23, ESV)

“Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” (Gal. 3:10, ESV)

Further proofs: Eph. 5:6; Matt. 25:41; Lam. 3:39; Hab. 1:13.

Exposition: Note Q82’s careful phrase “no mere man” — the qualifier excludes Christ, the God-man, who alone kept the law perfectly. Every other person since the fall sins “daily… in thought, word, and deed.” This is the law’s verdict on us all (Rom. 3:23), and it demolishes any hope of being saved by law-keeping. Q83 makes a needed distinction: though all sin damns, not all sins are equally heinous — some are worse by their nature (e.g., sins against God directly) or by aggravating circumstances (greater knowledge, higher privilege, presumption; cf. Luke 12:48). Q84 then pronounces the universal desert of every sin: “God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.” Even our smallest sin deserves eternal judgment, because it is against an infinitely holy God.

Connections

• WLC Q149–152 — no one can keep the commandments perfectly; whether all sins are equally heinous; the aggravations that make some sins worse; what every sin deserves.
• WCF 6 (the corruption of nature and total inability), WCF 16.5 (we cannot merit by our best works).
• Loci: Hamartiology (inability; the gradations and aggravations of sin; the just desert of sin); the law as a mirror driving us to Christ.

Pastoral & Practical Significance

These three questions are the law’s final, necessary work: to leave us without excuse and without self-confidence. Q82 closes the door on every attempt to be saved by our own obedience — if even the regenerate “daily break” God’s commandments, then no one stands before God on the basis of law-keeping. This is not meant to crush us into despair but to turn us, empty-handed, to Christ. Q84’s sobering verdict — that every sin deserves God’s wrath — makes the cross necessary and grace amazing: if my least sin merits eternal judgment, then the salvation that pardons “all our sins” (Q33) is a wonder beyond measure. And Q83’s distinction guards us from two errors: from minimizing sin (“they’re all the same anyway, so why bother?”) and from a flattened conscience that fails to see how privilege and knowledge increase our accountability. The honest weight of this section is precisely what makes the very next question — “What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath?” (Q85) — land as the dawning of hope. The law that condemns us is the schoolmaster that leads us to Christ (Gal. 3:24).

For Memory & Reflection

• Memorize Q82, Q83, and Q84 — together they are the law’s verdict that drives us to grace; anchor verses: 1 John 1:8 and Romans 6:23.
• Do I really believe I “daily break” God’s law in thought, word, and deed — or do I quietly think I’m doing well enough?
• If every sin deserves God’s wrath, how does that make the pardon of “all our sins” in Christ more precious?