Podcast Summary

The Westminster Shorter Catechism with Sinclair Ferguson

Episode: Question & Answer 52
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Ligonier Ministries

Main Theme

This brief episode explores Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 52: “What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?” Sinclair Ferguson discusses why God gives us additional motivations to uphold the second commandment, focusing on both the content of the answer and its implications for Christian worship and discipleship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Restating the Catechism’s Q&A

• Question 52: “What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?“
• Answer: “The reasons annexed to the second commandment are God’s sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.”

2. Understanding the “Reasons Annexed”

• Ferguson explains that God not only tells us what to do (the commandment), but also gives compelling reasons to obey, showing His care for our hearts as well as our behavior.
• The “reasons annexed” serve as motivations and reminders of God’s loving authority, ownership, and passionate concern for how He is worshipped.

3. Exploring Each Reason

• God's Sovereignty Over Us
  • God has the right to command us as our Creator and King.
• God’s Propriety (Ownership) In Us
  • As those He has made and redeemed, we belong to Him. Our worship is not just obligation but fitting response.
• God’s Zeal for His Own Worship
  • God cares deeply about being worshipped as He commands, not as we invent.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:02] Sinclair Ferguson:
  “The reasons annexed to the second commandment are God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.”

Insights (paraphrased and summarized due to brief transcript):

• Ferguson emphasizes:
  We are to worship God as He directs because He is our sovereign Lord, we are His possession, and He has a holy passion for His worship to be pure and pleasing to Him.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02] – Recitation and explanation of Question & Answer 52, listing the three “reasons” attached to the second commandment.

Tone and Language

• Sinclair Ferguson’s approach is pastoral, clear, and rooted in the language of the catechism—inviting listeners, parents, teachers, and disciples to grasp not just the words but the heart of biblical instruction.

Conclusion

This episode provides a succinct exploration of why the second commandment comes with special motivations. Ferguson encourages listeners to see obedience not as a cold duty, but as worshipful response to God’s sovereign authority, His ownership of us, and His passion for true worship.

Listeners are invited to reflect on these reasons, both for their own spiritual growth and for leading others into “the solid food” of Scripture.