Mar 21
14
Baptist Catechism 68 & 69
Q. 68. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)
Q. 69. What is required in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals. (Lev. 19:32; 1 Peter 2:17; Rom. 13:1; Eph. 5:21,22; Eph. 6:1,5,9; Col. 3:19-22; Rom. 12:10)
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:18-4:1
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.” (Colossians 3:18–4:1, ESV)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.
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Introduction
I have come to really love and appreciate the instruction that our catechism provides on the Ten Commandments. One thing that I appreciate is the breadth of the interpretation. Our catechism does not give us a narrow interpretation, but a broad one. In other words, these commandments are teased out. And it is right for the Ten Commandments to be teased out, for this is what the scriptures do, and this is what Christ himself did. The Ten Commandments are to be viewed as a summary of God’s moral law. And you know what a summary is. A summary provides a brief account of something but does not tell the whole story. The Ten Commandments contain God’s moral law, in summary.
So, the fifth commandment, which is, “Honor thy father and thy mother”, does not merely require little children to respect their parents. No, it requires us to preserve the honor, and perform the duties, belonging to everyone in their [various] places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.” In other words, respect is to be shown to all people. And it is to be shown to all people taking into consideration their place in relation to you as either superiors, inferiors, or equals. So it is not only superiors — like parents — who are to be respected but equals and inferiors too, each in a way that is fitting.
And where is this behavior first learned? In the home. It is in the family environment where children are to honor others. First, they are to honor their parents. Second, if they have siblings, they are to honor them as equals. And third, they are to take this responsibility with them out into the world to apply in every realm. “The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals. “
Baptist Catechism 69
The fifth commandment is the first commandment of the second table of God’s law. The first table of the law (commandments 1-4) has to do with our relation to God. And the second table (commandments 5-10) has to do with our relationships with our fellow man. The fifth commandment, just like the first commandment, is foundational then.
Where do we start if we wish to relate to our fellow man in the right way? We start with honor. And the very first people we must learn to honor are our parents.
My time is very limited in the afternoon, and so I will not expand upon this much. But think of how devastating the breakdown of the family is to society. Think of how devastating it is for God’s moral law to be abandoned and suppressed within a society. If God’s law is not honored, and if children are not taught to honor God and man within the home, then do not be surprised when that society grows very harsh and even brutal. If we are to learn how to relate well to our fellow man, we must learn to show honor to everyone in their different places. And this is to be learned first all in the home as children are raised, ideally, by father and mother.
Notice that our catechism says that we must “preserve the honor” of others. Does this not imply that men and women possess a certain dignity by nature? Yes, and this is because they have been made in the image of God. And add to this the place that God has given them in the world. Each place — be it lowly or high — requires a certain kind of honor. This honor is to be preserved. Does this not also imply that we, because of our sinful condition, do tend towards dishonor. Throughout this history of the world, the weak have been exploited by the strong. This cannot be. And men do also slander other men. This also is a great evil. Not only are we to show honor to others who have been made in God’s image, we must also seek to preserve their honor. So this may involve standing up for the weak and oppressed and rebuking the slanderer to preserve the reputation of another.
Next, our catechism speaks of “performing the duties, belonging to everyone”. When I think of the instruction to preserve the honor… belonging to everyone”, I think of defence. We must defend the honor of others. But the words, “performing the duties, belonging to everyone”, communicates that we are to positively and proactively give to others the honor that is due to them.
Children owe their parents honor in the form of respect and obedience. Children, honor your parents. You must. God commands it. And when you fail to honor your parents, you must learn to repent. That means that you must learn to confess your sin to God, for you sin against him when you dishonor your parents. You must ask him to forgive you in Christ Jesus. And you must also learn to ask your parents to forgive you, for you have done wrong to them. You have failed to give them what they deserve as your parent — respect and obedience. And lastly, you must ask the Lord to help you to not stubble again. Children owe their parents honor in the form of respect and obedience.
Citizens owe respect to governing authorities; congregants owe respect to their ministers; wives owe respect to their husbands; employees owe respect to their employers. On and on I could go. But I do love this little phrase, “ in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.” It helps us to remember that honor is owed, not only to those who are over us, but also to those who stand beside us and are under us.
Husbands, honor your wives, therefore. Am I now contradicting the scriptures with say, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” No! I am only drawing your attention to what is said next in that same passage — “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.” So do you see that there is a special kind of honor that a wife owes to her husband, and there is a special kind of honor that a husband owes to his wife?! Yes, the husband has authority in the home, but honor is to be shown to all. As Peter says, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7, ESV)
Governors, honor your citizens.
Bosses, honor your employees.
Parents, honor your children. “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21, ESV). “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4, ESV)
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Conclusion
So do you see how our catechism teases out the fifth commandment, and rightly so? The fifth commandment requires children to honor their father and mother, but more than this it “requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.”
Dear brothers and sisters, have you kept this law perfectly?
No, we have violated this law in thought, word, and deed.
Thanks be to God for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who paid for all our sins and has clothed us in his righteousness if we have faith in him.
