The Fourth Commandment

(Plain Text Version)

The Fourth Commandment: Honor Your Father and Your Mother.
Parents are called “co-creators” because God works through them to bring us into existence. The love and honor we show towards our parents is like the love and honor we show to God.
The Fourth Commandment directs children to honor and obey their parents. Later in life, we have a duty to assist our parents in their needs.
Parents are obliged to provide for their children and train them for responsible adulthood.
We must also obey the legitimate directions of Church and civil authorities.
The Blessings of the Fourth Commandment
Here is the longer form of the Fourth Commandment from scripture: “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord, your God has commanded you, that you may have a long life and prosperity in the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:16).
The first blessing is long life. The second blessing is prosperity (a healthy society where everyone has what they need). Wise and generous choices help us as individuals and as a society. In this life on Earth, these two blessings are marred by sin. In heaven, we will receive these blessings in their fullness.
The Fourth Commandment in the Home
Let’s picture in our minds the life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. As God, Jesus did not need guidance from anyone. However, He humbled Himself to take on a human nature. In this human nature, He depended totally on His parents, just like all of us.
The Holy Family thrived, despite danger and hardships, because they lived out the Fourth Commandment perfectly. Joseph and Mary had special graces for their mission to raise their divine Son. They led Jesus without any trace of harshness. Jesus obeyed them promptly and eagerly.
The more our family life is like the life of the Holy Family, the happier everyone will be.
The Fourth Commandment in the Church
Christ established the Church to be the visible society of His followers. As He commanded, this society is governed by the Apostles and their successors. We must obey the legitimate commands of pastors of the Church. They, in turn, have the duty to rule with Christian charity.
The Fourth Commandment in Society
The authority of civil officials comes from God. We must obey their legitimate directions. Society functions well when civil officials seek the common good.
Often, civil laws go against God’s laws. Many laws mix good things with bad things. We will be able to make good decisions if we know our Faith. We must never obey a law which goes against the law of God.
God comes first in all things.

Many thanks to:
Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., Pocket Catholic Catechism, 1989, Doubleday
New Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible, 1954, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine