On the Fifth Commandment.
The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church · St. Philaret of Moscow
554. What special duties are prescribed by the fifth commandment in regard to parents , under the general phrase of honoring them? 1. To behave respectfully to them. 2. To obey them. 3. To support and comfort them in sickness and age. 4. After their death, as well as during their lives, to pray for the salvation of their souls; and faithfully to fulfill their last wills, so far as they are not contrary to law, divine or civil. See 2 Macc. xii. 43, 44 ; Jer. xxxv. 18, 19 . (J. Damasc. Serm. de Mort.)
Q. 554
555. What degree of sin is there in undutifulness to parents? In proportion as it is easy and natural to love and honor parents, to whom we owe our being, the more grievous is the sin of undutifulness towards them: for this cause in the law of Moses he that cursed father or mother was to be put to death. Exod. xxi. 17 .
Q. 555
556. Why has this particular commandment to honor parents a promise added to it of prosperity and long life? That men by a visible reward might be the more moved to fulfill a commandment on which the good order first of families and afterwards of all social life depends.
Q. 556
557. How is this promise fulfilled? The examples of the old Patriarchs or Fathers show that God gives special force to the blessing of parents. Gen. xxvii . The blessing of the father establisheth the houses of the children. Ecclus. iii. 9 . God of his wise and just providence specially protects the life and promotes the prosperity of such as honor their parents upon earth; but for the perfect reward of the perfect virtue he gives everlasting life and blessedness in the heavenly country.
Q. 557
558. Why in those commandments which teach love to our neighbors is mention made first of all of parents? Because parents are naturally nearer to us than all others.
Q. 558
559. Are there not others also to be understood in the fifth commandment under the name of parents? Yes; all who in different relations stand to us in the place of parents.
Q. 559
560. Who stand to us in the place of parents? 1. Our sovereign and our country; for an empire is a great family, in which the sovereign is father, and the subjects children of the sovereign and their country. 2. Our spiritual pastors and teachers; for they by their doctrine and by the beget us to spiritual life, and nurture us up in it. 3. Our elders in age. 4. Our benefactors. 5. Our governors , or superiors, in different relations.
Q. 560
561. How does holy Scripture speak of the honor due to the sovereign? Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. Rom. xiii. 1, 2 . Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience' sake. Rom. xiii. 5 . My son, fear God and the king, and oppose neither of them. Prov xxiv. 21. Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's. Matt. xxii. 21 . Fear God; honor the king. 1 Pet. ii. 17 .
Q. 561
562. How far should love to our sovereign and country go? So far as to make us ready to lay down our life for them. John xv. 13 .
Q. 562
563. How does holy Scripture speak of the duty of honoring spiritual pastors and teachers? Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Heb. xiii. 17 .
Q. 563
564. Is there in holy Scripture any particular injunction to honor elders in age as parents? The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy thus: Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; younger men as brethren; elder women as mothers. 1 Tim. v. 1,2. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear the Lord thy God. Lev. xix. 32 .
Q. 564
565. How may we be assured that we ought to honor benefactors as parents? By the example of Jesus Christ himself, who was subject to Joseph; although Joseph was not his father, but only his guardian. Luke ii. 51 .
Q. 565
566. Besides these, who are our superiors, whom we must honor after parents, and like them? They who in place of parents take care of our education, as governors in schools , and masters; they who preserve us from irregularities and disorders in society, as civil magistrates; they who protect us from wrong by the power of the law, as judges; they to whom the sovereign intrusts the guardianship and defense of the public safety against enemies, as military commanders; and, lastly, masters , so far as relates to those who serve them, or belong to them.
Q. 566
567. What does holy Scripture prescribe as to our duty with respect to authorities generally? Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Rom. xiii. 7 .
Q. 567
568. How does holy Scripture speak of the obedience due from servants and serfs to their masters? Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Eph. vi. 5, 6 . Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, out also to the froward. 1 Peter ii. 18 .
Q. 568
569. If holy Scripture prescribe duties towards parents, does it not likewise prescribe duties towards children? It does. Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. vi. 4 .
Q. 569
570. How does holy Scripture speak of the duty of pastors towards their spiritual flock? Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof not by constraint, but willingly, and according to God; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. . 1 Pet. v. 2, 3 .
Q. 570
571. How does holy Scripture speak of the duty of them that are in authority , and of masters? Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Coloss. iv. 1 .
Q. 571
572. How ought we to act, if it fall out that our parents or governors require of ns any thing contrary to the faith or to the law of God? In that case we should say to them, as the Apostles said to the rulers of the Jews: Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye; and we should be ready, for the sake of the faith and the law of God, to endure the consequences, whatever they may be. Acts iv. 19 .
Q. 572