Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves [d].
[d] Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Ver.38 This is the first and great commandment. Ver.39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Ver.40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.102. What is the sum of the four commandments which contain our duty to God?
A. The sum of the four commandments containing our duty to God is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind [m].
[m] Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.122. What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man?
A. The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man, is, to love our neighbour as ourselves [y], and to do to others what we would have them to do to us [z].
[y] Matthew 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[z] Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 63. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, "Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee [v]. "
[v] Exodus 20:12
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.123. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee [a].
[a] Exodus 20:12
Overview: The scope of the Fifth Commandment is much broader than you might expect. In fact, it's huge. We'll have to take some time just to get a handle on it.
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.124. Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment?
A. By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents [b], but all superiors in age [c] and gifts [d]; and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family [e], church [f], or commonwealth [g].
not only natural parents [b],
[b] Proverbs 23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Ver.25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
Ephesians 6:1-2 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Ver.2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
but all superiors in age [c]
[c] 1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; Ver.2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
and gifts [d];
[d] Genesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. Ver.21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Ver.22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
Genesis 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family [e],
[e] 2 Kings 5:13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
church [f],
[f] 2 Kings 2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
2 Kings 13:14 Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
or commonwealth [g].
[g] Isaiah 49:23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.125. Why are superiors styled father and mother?
A. Superiors are styled father and mother, both to teach them in all duties toward their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations [h]; and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents [i].
[h] Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 12:14 For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: Ver.8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.Ver.11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
Numbers 11:11-12 And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Ver.12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents [i].
[i] 1 Corinthians 4:14-16 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. Ver.15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Ver.16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
2 Kings 5:13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
Westminster Larger Catechism
Q.126. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment?
A. The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals [k].
[k] Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
End of Lesson, Day 106
Note : This is a surprisingly important section in the Catechism. The ability to honor is the foundation of a prosperous civilization. The inability or refusal to honor others is based on covetousness, lust, anger, and lies (a refusal to face the truth), and leads to theft, adultery, and murder, and the violation of all the other commandments.The Fifth Commandment applies to Parents:
Superiors:
Those who are talented and excel you in gifts and graces
Those in authority over us:
The ability to HONOR someone who excels you in some way is one of the most effective antidotes to pride. It truly separates the men from the boys. And that's ironic, because it says that the test of maturity is the ability to act as an obedient child. Tyrants are childish. Those who can submit to them with grace are true men. They are then, like Joseph, exalted over all of Egypt. The Commandment also applies to those the Catechism calls "inferiors." This doesn't mean people who are in some way "defective." It means those whom God has entrusted to you to care for in some way, whether for a life or only for a moment. Parents care for their children as "inferiors," employers care for employees, babysitters care for their "inferiors," and those who have developed the gifts given them by God have duties to those who are less gifted or have not yet developed their talents. Parents, employers, governors, adults, and all those in authority have duties to their "inferiors" and must be careful not to abuse their authority and sin against their "inferiors." Finally, each of us have duties to others as "equals." When we more thoroughly study this commandment, we will see a vast array of personal relationships open up before us, relationships we have de-personalized, relationships to which all the other commandments can be applied. We sometimes forget that our boss or our maid or our neighbor are human beings and we have duties toward them all. This commandment helps us remember our relationships and our duties. |
Overview:
Question 127: What is the honor that inferiors owe to their superiors?
Question 128: What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?
Question 129: What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
Question 130: What are the sins of superiors?
Question 131: What are the duties of equals?
Question 132: What are the sins of equals?
In State
and Church
Question 127: What is the honor that inferiors owe to their superiors?
Answer: The honor which inferiors owe to their superiors is,
- all due reverence
- in heart,
- word,
- and behavior;
- prayer
- and thanksgiving for them;
- imitation of
- their virtues
- and graces;
- willing obedience to their lawful
- commands
- and counsels;
- due submission to their corrections;
| their persons and authority, |
- bearing with their infirmities,
- and covering them in love,
that so they may be an honor to them and to their government.
Question 128: What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?
Answer: The sins of inferiors against their superiors are,
- all neglect of the duties required toward them;
|
|
- in their lawful
- counsels,
- commands, and
- corrections;
- cursing,
- mocking, and
- all such refractory and scandalous carriage,
- as proves a shame and dishonor
- to them
- and their government.
- as proves a shame and dishonor
- Question 129: What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
- Answer: It is required of superiors,
- according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand,
- to love,
- pray for, and
- bless their inferiors;
- to instruct,
- counsel, and
- admonish them;
- countenancing,
- commending, and
- rewarding
- and discountenancing,
- reproving, and
- chastising
such as do well; | |
such as do ill; |
- protecting, and
- providing for them
- all things necessary
- for soul
- and body:
|
|
Question 130: What are the sins of superiors?
Answer: The sins of superiors are,
- besides the neglect of the duties required of them,
- an inordinate seeking of
- themselves,
- their own glory,
- ease,
- profit, or
- pleasure;
- commanding things
- unlawful,
- or not in the power of inferiors to perform;
| in that which is evil; |
| in that which is good; |
correcting them unduly;
|
|
- provoking them to wrath;
|
|
Question 131: What are the duties of equals?
Answer: The duties of equals are,
- to regard
- the dignity
- and worth of each other,
- in giving honor to go one before another;
- and to rejoice in each other's gifts and advancement, as their own.
Question 132: What are the sins of equals?
Answer: The sins of equals are,
- besides the neglect of the duties required,
- the undervaluing of the worth,
- envying the gifts,
- grieving at
- the advancement
- or prosperity one of another;
- and usurping preeminence one over another.
Question 133: What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment, the more to enforce it?
Answer: The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in these words,
That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God gives thee,
is an express promise of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good, to all such as keep this commandment.
For Further Study:
- Francis R. Beattie's The Presbyterian Standards
- James Fisher's Catechism on the Catechism
- John Flavel's Exposition of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism (Questions 63 to 66 combined)
- Matthew Henry's A Scripture Catechism in the Method of the Assembly's
- Thomas Vincent's The Shorter Catechism Explained from Scripture
- Thomas Watson's Body of Divinity (Questions 63 to 66 combined)
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