Princeton Presbyterian Church (EPC) Sermon # 1743
August 16, 2026
Exodus 20.12 Click here for audio worship.
Dr. Ed Pettus
(This is an extended outline, not a verbatim transcript.)
“Fifth Commandment – What is Required”
“Honor your father and your mother,
that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
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What is Required of Those in Authority
I have been drawing a lot from the Larger Catechism in this series on the Ten Commandments, but I want to begin today with a question and answer from the Shorter Catechism. Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment? A. The fifth commandment requires preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals. This answer summarizes the requirements of honor and duty for all positions of authority and how three categories relate to this Commandment. Those three categories are those in authority, those under authority, and those who are equal.
The Fifth Commandment teaches us to honor our father and mother. That is the simple and plain teaching in this Command. But there is also an implication within this command and within the teachings of the Bible, that fathers and mothers serve the family honorably. As we know, some families are not perfect! Okay, no family is perfect. But we know that familial relationships can make this Commandment a difficult observance. Things like abuse and neglect play a role in some families. Divorce and remarriage make this a more complicated Command to work out. The breakdown of what were once considered family values in our society touch on this. We could go on with how difficult it may be to honor father and mother in some situations, but we know how sin in the world and in the human heart distorts obedience to all of God’s Commandments and His way of life.
Let me pile some more stuff on the Fifth Commandment! In the Larger Catechism we are taught that this Commandment includes more than just familial relationships. Father and mother are also metaphors for those who are older, our elders. Other categories include those who, as the Catechism teaches, are more talented, or those who hold positions of authority in the church or in civil government. You may remember a time when positions of authority were well respected in our society. I remember a scene from the comedy Scrubs when one of the doctors was reminiscing about getting free haircuts because he was in a profession of respect as a medical doctor. His lament was that no one respected him or his position anymore. The comical conclusion was at his next haircut he ran out without paying as the barber chased him down the street.
Positions of authority are required to take that authority responsibly for the good of those who are under them. The Catechism speaks in terms of love and gentleness. One example of this kind of authority is found in Paul and how he treated those under his authority. 1 Thessalonians 2.7-8, 11-12, “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us...For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”
This example is one of apostle in authority over the church. Every position of authority in society is responsible to learn from the Scriptures how to best exercise their particular position, from parent to doctor to politician and so forth. They learn proper fairness and justice and righteousness. They are to serve and speak honestly and work with integrity. Much of this is lost in positions of authority partly because respect for those positions has evaporated and many of those in authority have no Christian foundation from which to draw.
Everyone who is in any position of authority is required to keep the Fifth Commandment by recognizing that our authority is from God and not our own. It is never to be exercised in ways that harm or abuse or take advantage. Those in authority are required to bless those under them and do all to preserve life and liberty. They should protect and provide and be examples of honor as they seek to maintain proper authority as it is a gift from God. Keeping the Fifth Commandment requires us to serve as Christ served and gave of His life for the good of others and the good of creation.
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What is Required of Those Under Authority
The Fifth Commandment teaches us to honor our father and mother. We live for many years under their authority, normally that period is at least through age 18, although it continues for the duration of their lives. When I was caring for my own father, I had a time of reflection on how to honor him as his son. I wrote those reflections in our church newsletter some time ago and will remind us of them here!
First, show respect. Respect is due simply because of the authority held in the position of parent. We do our best to show honor by assisting them whenever necessary. Honor sometimes needs to be an act of parenting our parent. We do what is right for them, provide for their needs as they once provided for ours. We seek to listen and respond with compassion. Respect comes in kindness and humility, making difficult decisions and trusting God through all things. We might also serve as the advocate for our parents when necessary.
Second, live in ways that honors God so that we also honor the family name. In some ways that may mean to redeem the family name. If a parent lacked faith in God and did not give witness to the salvation known in Christ, we can give such a witness in how we show honor to our parents.
Third, give thanks. We give thanks to God for all things, good or bad, that brought us to this point in life. Our parents taught us many things either directly or indirectly by how they lived and how they succeeded or failed as a parent. For better or worse, we have learned to live as we do mainly through our earliest years in the family.
As we seek to honor this Commandment beyond just our parents, we also are taught to honor all positions of authority. 1 Peter 2.17, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” Honor requires us to pray for those in positions of authority. We seek to be obedient to laws and defend and support those positions.
Since the Catechism teaches us to understand this Commandment goes beyond just father and mother, we learn much of how we keep the Commandment from the teachings about parents. Proverbs 23.22, “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” In essence we are to listen to those in authority and not despise them because of that authority. Overall, the Larger Catechism draws from many examples of parent and child to teach about those in authority and those under authority.
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What is Required of Those Equal
Our last category is that which is required as equals. The Larger Catechism teaches: “Equals are required to pay attention to the dignity and worth of each other by honoring each other above themselves and by rejoicing in each other’s gifts and success as if their own.” A large portion of this teaching comes from Romans 12,
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight” (Rom 12.10-16)
In the end we might consider that every aspect of these three categories comes down to being like Jesus in having the same mindset as Him.
Philippians 2.1-5, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and, sympathy complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
Keeping the Fifth Commandment requires humility, self-denial, and our thoughts steeped in the mind of Christ.
Like every Commandment, observing the Fifth Commandment takes courage, discernment, and discipline. Familial relationships can be wrought with pain through many factors. Families have struggled with losing a parent at an early age, perhaps abuse of some kind, absentee parents who worked constantly, parents who let the children rule the home rather than providing boundaries and rules. The list of dysfunctions seems endless in this day and age and the absence of any of the Ten Commandments makes it all the more troubling for society. In essence, showing honor is not predicated on whether the parent is good or bad. It is simply the command to show honor to father and mother.
There are no perfect families. There are no perfect societies. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God seeks our obedience to His commandments. As we try our best to be good parents and as we try our best to honor our parents, to be good as those in authority and those under authority and as equals, let us remember that God the Father walks with us in the Holy Spirit. Let us remember to note how Jesus responded to the will of His Father. Let us humble ourselves before God as He leads us to honor our elders, fathers, mothers, mentors, and the like. Amen.
