Chatechism 63-66

Intro

Question 63 What is the fifth commandment?

Answer The fifth commandment is: Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Question 64 What is required in the fifth commandment?

Answer The fifth commandment requires us to respect and treat others, especially our parents, with respect. It informs the way we respond to all people in all positions of authority.

Question 65 What does the fifth commandment forbid?

Answer The fifth commandment forbids disrespecting or not treating others as their position or relationship to us demands.

Question 66 What is the reason for the fifth commandment?

Answer The fifth commandment promises a long and prosperous life, for the glory of God, to all those who obey this commandment.

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Scriptures

Romans 13:1

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Ephesians 5:22, 25

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord…25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…

Ephesians 6:1-9

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

Dig Deeper Questions

1. What does it mean to honor one’s father and mother?

2. How does this provide the foundation for submitting to authorities in general?

3. How does submitting to your parents prepare you to submit to God?

4. What type of authorities are we to obey?

a. When are you allowed to disobey an authority? Explain.