Westminster Larger Catechism (Q 122-130)

Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, we continued our Sunday school lessons in the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC) in questions 122-130 (the fifth commandment). Here is a brief review.

WLC 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, and to do to others what we would have them to do to us.

Just as WLC 102 introduced and summarized the first four commandments as containing our duty to God to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27), WLC 122 introduces and summarizes the next six commandments as containing our duty to man to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39).

WLC 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.

The WLC devotes eleven questions (WLC 123-133) to the fifth command, which enjoins us to honor our father and mother.

WLC 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, but all superiors in age, and gifts; and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth.

In this introductory question, we learn how this commandment to honor one’s father and mother is rightfully applied to natural parents, as well as to all superiors in age and in gifts. These three categories of people may be found in three different institutions or spheres: the family, the church, and the commonwealth.

WLC 125  Why are superiors stiled Father and Mother?
A. Superiors are stiled Father and Mother, both to teach them in all duties towards their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations; and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents.

This question addresses the responsibilities and intended disposition of both “superiors” (or those in authority) and “inferiors” (those under authority):

(1) Superiors ought to express love and tenderness to inferiors, according to their several relations (1 Thessalonians 2:7-12).
(2) Inferiors ought to perform their duties to superiors with greater willingness and cheerfulness (1 Corinthians 4:14-16).

WLC 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.

The scope of the fifth commandment covers the duties which we owe in three kinds of roles or relationships: as inferiors, superiors, or equals. The next six catechism questions (WLC 127-132) address these roles.

WLC 127  What is the honour that inferiors owe to their superiors?
A. The honour which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart, word, and behaviour; prayer and thanksgiving for them; imitation of their virtues and graces; willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels, due submission to their corrections; fidelity to, defence, and maintenance of their persons and authority according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places; bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love, that so they may be an honour to them and to their government.

The honor that inferiors owe to their superiors may be summarized under three headings:

(1) All due reverence, prayer, and thanksgiving (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
(2) Imitation, obedience, and submission (Hebrews 13:7)
(3) Fidelity, understanding, and honor (Romans 13:6-7; 1 Peter 2:18)

WLC 128  What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?
A. The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them; envying at, contempt of, and rebellion against, their persons and places, in their lawful counsels, commands, and corrections; cursing, mocking, and all such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonour to them and their government.

The sins of inferiors against their superiors may be summarized under three headings:

(1) Neglect of the required duties (see previous question, WLC 127)
(2) Envy, contempt, and rebellion (Romans 1:28-32)
(3) Cursing and mocking (Proverbs 19:26)

WLC 129  What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
A. 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 such as do well; and discountenancing, reproving, and chastising such as do ill; protecting, and providing for them all things necessary for soul and body: and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God, honour to themselves, and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them.

That which is required of superiors toward their inferiors may be summarized under three headings:

(1) Love, pray for, bless, disciple, and discipline (Ephesians 5:25-27; Ephesians 6:4)
(2) Protect and provide for in soul and body (1 Timothy 5:8)
(3) Be a godly example (1 Timothy 4:12-13)

WLC 130  What are the sins of superiors?
A. 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; counselling, encouraging, or favouring them in that which is evil dissuading, discouraging, or discountenancing them in that which is good; correcting them unduly; careless exposing, or leaving them to wrong, temptation, and danger; provoking them to wrath; or any way dishonouring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behaviour.

The sins of superiors may be summarized under five headings:

(1) The neglect of the required duties (see previous question, WLC 129)
(2) Self-aggrandizement (Philippians 2:19-21)
(3) Giving unlawful or undoable commands (Acts 4:15-18)
(4) Encouraging evil or discouraging good (Colossians 3:21)
(5) Not protecting and dishonoring one’s role of authority (Ephesians 6:4)

Conclusion

As we read and study the required duties and forbidden sins of the ten commandments, we all are certainly convicted of the innumerable ways in which we do not conform to God’s law and the innumerable ways in which we transgress God’s law every day in thought, word, and deed. And, as we are convicted of our sin, we are also reminded of the two special uses of God’s law for the regenerate which we learned in WLC 97.

First, we grow in our assurance of salvation through faith in the Person and work of Christ. The law of God shows us how much we are bound to Christ for His fulfilling the law and enduring the curse of the law in our stead, and for our good. Second, we learn better how to love the Lord and to love our neighbor. The law of God provokes us to thankful obedience, to endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ.

Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am as we learn how we may offer up our thankful obedience to our Savior in all that we think, say, and do.

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Peter M. Dietsch