The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q65. What is forbidden in the Fifth Commandment?
A. The Fifth Commandment
forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing any thing against,
the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and
relations.[1]
[1] Matthew 15:4–6; Ezekiel 34:2–4; Romans 13:8.
Every one of us is set in various social spheres by God’s providence. A man may be simultaneously a father and husband at home, a member and deacon in church, a manager at work, a student at night class, a section commander in the army reserve, and a citizen of the nation. In each of these spheres, he has to relate to different people, some believers and some not. He is to relate to them according to his and their functional positions in the sphere. As a father, he has the responsibility of oversight over his children. He has the duty of bring them up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. As a husband, he has the duty of loving and leading his wife in temporal and spiritual matters. As a deacon in church, he has the duty to submit to the session of the church and to lead the members of the church in temporal and financial matters of the church. As a member in the church, he has the duty of exhorting, encouraging and praying with and for fellow members. As a manager at work, he has to report to his company chairman and submit to his instruction, while at the same time he has to direct the persons under him. As a student, he is responsible to be on time for his classes, to receive instructions from his teacher, and to hand in his assignments promptly. As a section commander in the reserve, he has to take commands from his platoon commander, and he is to command his section of men. As a citizen of the nation, he must respect and honour the government, obey all the civil laws and pay all taxes honestly.
The Fifth Commandment makes all these duties no longer optional, but mandatory.
To neglect or to do anything contrary to these duties is sin. In addition, the
Fifth Commandment forbids any thoughts, words or deeds which dishonour another,
especially such as are set in authority over us. WLC 128 summarises most thoroughly:
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.