(The FIFTH Commandment)
Next Part (The FIFTH Commandment)
"Honour your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you." Exodus 20:12
Having done with the first table of the law, I am next to speak of the duties of the second table. The ten commandments may be likened to Jacob's ladder: the first table respects God, and is the top of the ladder which reaches to heaven; the second respects men, and is the foot of the ladder that rests on the earth. By the first table, we walk piously towards God; by the second, we walk religiously towards man. He cannot be good in the first table—who is bad in the second.
"Honour your father and your mother." In this we have a command, "honour your father and your mother;" and, second, a reason for it, "That your days may be long in the land."
I. The COMMAND will chiefly be considered here, "Honour your father."
FATHER is of different kinds; as the political, the ancient, the spiritual, the domestic, and the natural.
[1] The POLITICAL father, the magistrate. He is the father of his country. He is to be an encourager of virtue, a punisher of vice, and a father to the widow and orphan. Such a father was Job. "I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not, I searched out." Job 29:16. As magistrates are fathers, so especially the king, who is the head of magistrates, is a political father; he is placed as the sun among the lesser stars. The Scripture calls kings, "fathers." "Kings shall be your nursing fathers." Isa 49:23. They are to train up their subjects in piety, by good edicts and examples; and nurse them up in peace and pienty. Such nursing fathers were David, Hezekiah, Josiah, Constantine, and Theodosius. It is well for a people to have such nursing fathers, whose breasts milk comfort to their children. These fathers are to be honoured, for—
(1) Their place deserves honour. God has set these political fathers to preserve order and harmony in a nation, and to prevent those state convulsions which otherwise might ensue. When "there was no king in Israel, every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6. It is a wonder that locusts have no king—yet they go forth by bands.
(2) God has promoted kings, that they may promote justice. As they have a sword in their hand, to signify their power; so they have a sceptre, an emblem of justice. It is said of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, that he allotted one hour each day to hear the complaints of those who were oppressed. Kings place judges about the throne, for distribution of justice. These political fathers are to be honoured. "Honour the king." 1 Pet 2:17. This honour is to be shown by a civil respect to their persons, and a cheerful submission to their laws; so far as they agree and run parallel with God's law. Kings are to be prayed for, which is a part of the honour we give them. "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Tim 2:1-2. We are to pray for kings, that God would honour them to be blessings; that under them we may enjoy the gospel of peace, and the peace of the gospel. How happy was the reign of Numa Pompilius, when swords were beaten into ploughshares, and bees made hives of the soldiers' helmets!
[2] There is the grave ANCIENT father, who is venerable for old age; whose grey hairs are resembled to the white flowers of the almond-tree. Eccl 12:5. There are fathers for seniority, on whose wrinkled brows, and in the furrows of whose cheeks is pictured the map of old age. These fathers are to be honoured. "You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man." Lev 19:32. Especially those are to be honoured, who are fathers not only for their seniority—but for their piety; whose souls are flourishing when their bodies are decaying. It is a blessed sight to see springs of grace in the winter of old age; to see men stooping towards the grave—yet going up the hill of God; to see them lose their colour—yet keep their savour. Those whose silver hairs are crowned with righteousness, are worthy of double honour; they are to be honoured, not only as pieces of antiquity—but as patterns of virtue. If you see an old man fearing God, whose grace shines brightest when the sun of his life is setting—O honour him as a father, by reverencing and imitating him.
[3] There are SPIRITUAL fathers, as pastors and ministers. These are instruments of the new birth. "Though you have ten thousand instructors—yet have you not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Cor 4:15. The spiritual fathers are to be honoured, in respect of their office. Whatever their persons are, their office is honourable; they are the messengers of the Lord Almighty. Mal 2:7. They represent no less than God himself. "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ." 2 Cor 5:20. Jesus Christ was of this calling; he had his mission and sanction from heaven, and this crowns the ministerial vocation with honour. John 8:18.
These spiritual fathers are to be honoured "for their work's sake." They come, like the dove, with an olive branch of peace in the mouth; they preach glad tidings of peace; their work is "to save souls." Other vocations have only to do with men's bodies or estates—but the minister's vocation is employed about the souls of men. Their work is to redeem spiritual captives, and turn men "from the power of Satan unto God." Acts 26:18. Their work is "to enlighten those who sit in the region of darkness," and make them "shine as stars in the kingdom of heaven." These spiritual fathers are to be "honoured for their work's sake;" and this honour is to be shown three ways:
(1) By giving them respect. "Know those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord, and esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake." 1 Thess 5:12, 13. I confess the scandalous lives of some ministers have been a great reproach, and have made the "offering of the Lord to be abhorred" in some places of the land. The leper in the law was to have his lip covered; so such as are angels by office—but lepers in their lives, ought to have their lips covered, and to be silenced. But though some deserve "no honour"—yet such as are faithful, and make it their work to bring souls to Christ, are to be reverenced as spiritual fathers. Obadiah honoured the prophet Elijah. 1 Kings 18:7. Why did God appoint that the prince should ask counsel of God by the priest, Num 27:21; why did the Lord show, by that miracle of Aaron's rod flourishing, that he had chosen the tribe of "Levi to minister before him," Num 17; why does Christ call his apostles "the lights of the world"; why does he say to all his ministers, "Lo, I am with you to the end of the world;" but because he would have these spiritual fathers reverenced?
In ancient times the Egyptians chose their kings out of their priests. They are far from showing this respect and honour to their spiritual fathers, who have slight thoughts of such as have the charge of the sanctuary, and minister before the Lord. "Know them," says the apostle, "who labour among you." Many can be content to know their ministers in their infirmities, and are glad when they have anything against them—but do not know them in the apostle's sense, so as to give them "double honour." Surely, were it not for the ministry, you would not be a vineyard—but a desert! Were it not for the ministry, you would be destitute of the two seals of the covenant, baptism and the Lord's Supper; you would be infidels; "for faith comes by hearing; and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Rom 10:14.
(2) Honor these spiritual fathers, by becoming advocates for them, and wiping off those slanders and calumnies which are unjustly cast upon them. 1 Tim 5:19. Constantine was a great honourer of the ministry; he vindicated them; he would not read the envious accusations brought against them—but burnt them. Do the ministers open their mouths to God for you in prayer, and will not you open your mouths in their behalf? Surely, if they labour to preserve you from hell, you should preserve them from slander! If they labour to save your souls, you ought to save their credit.
(3) Honour them by conforming to their doctrine. The greatest honour you can put upon your spiritual fathers, is to believe and obey their doctrine. He is an honourer of the ministry, who is not only a hearer—but a follower of the Word. As disobedience reproaches the ministry, so obedience honours it. The apostle calls the Thessalonians his crown. "What is our crown of rejoicing? Is it not you?" 1 Thess 2:19. A thriving people are a minister's crown. When there is a metamorphosis, a change wrought; when people come to the Word proud—but go away humble; when they come earthly—but they go away heavenly; when they come, as Naaman to Jordan, lepers—but they go away healed; then the ministry is honoured. "Do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation?" 2 Cor 3:1. Though other ministers might need letters of commendation—yet Paul needed none; for, when men heard of the obedience wrought in these Corinthians by Paul's preaching, it would be a sufficient certificate that God had blessed his labours. The Corinthians were a sufficient honour to him; they were his testimonial letters. You cannot honour your spiritual fathers more, than by thriving under their ministry, and living upon the sermons which they preach.
[4] There is the DOMESTIC father, that is, the master. He is "the father of the family"; therefore Naaman's servants called their master, father. 2 Kings 5:13. The centurion calls his servant, son. Matt 8:6. (Greek.) The servant is to honour his master, as the father of the family. Though the master is not so qualified as he should be—yet the servant must not neglect his duty—but show some kind of honour to him.
(1) In OBEYING his master, "in things which are lawful and honest." "Servants, be subject to your masters; not only to the good and gentle—but also to the forward." 1 Pet 2:18. God has nowhere given a charter of exemption to free you from your duty. You cannot disobey your earthly master—but you are disobeying your master in heaven. Think not that birth, or great abilities, no, nor even grace, will exempt you from obedience to your master. To obey him is an ordinance of God; and an apostle says, "Those who resist the ordinance, shall receive to themselves damnation." Rom 13:2.
(2) The servant's honouring his master, is seen in being DILIGENT in his service. Apelles painted a servant with his hands full of tools—as an emblem of diligence. The loitering servant is a kind of thief, who, though he does not steal his master's goods, steals the time which he should have employed in his master's service. The slothful servant is called a "wicked servant." Matt 25:26.
(3) The servant is to honour his master by being FAITHFUL. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant?" Matt 24:45. Faithfulness is the chief thing in a servant. Faithfulness in a servant is seen in six things:
[1] In concealing the secrets the master has entrusted you with. If those secrets are not sins, you ought not to betray them. What is whispered in your ear, you are not to publish on the house-top. Servants who do this are spies. Who would keep a glass that is cracked? Who would keep a servant that has a crack in his brain, and cannot keep a secret?
[2] Faithfulness in a servant is seen in designing the master's advantage. A faithful servant esteems his master's goods as his own. Such a servant had Abraham; who, when his master sent him to transact business for him, was as careful about it, as if it had been his own. "O Lord, God of my master," he prayed. "Give me success and show kindness to my master, Abraham. Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey." Gen 24:12. Doubtless Abraham's servant was as glad that he had got a wife for his master's son—as if he had got a wife for himself!
[3] Faithfulness in a servant is seen in standing up for the honour of his master. When he hears him spoken against, he vindicates him. As the master is careful of the servant's body, so the servant should be careful of the master's name. When the master is unjustly reproached, the servant cannot be excused if he is possessed with a dumb devil.
[4] Faithfulness is, when a servant is true to his word. He dares not tell a lie—but will speak the truth, though it is against himself. A lie doubles the sin. "I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence." Psalm 101:7. A liar is near akin to the devil. "For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44. Who would let any of the devil's kindred live with him! The lie that Gehazi told his master Elisha, entailed leprosy on Gehazi and his seed forever. 2 Kings 5:27. In a faithful servant—the tongue is the true index of the heart.
[5] Faithfulness is, when a servant is against mis-appropriation. He dares not convert his master's goods to his own use. "Not purloining." Tit 2:10. What a servant filches from his master—is damnable gain! He who enriches himself by stealing from his master, stuffs his pillow with thorns, on which his head will lie very uneasy when he comes to die.
[6] Faithfulness consists in preserving the master's person, if unjustly in danger. Banister betrayed his master the Duke of Buckingham, and the judgments of God fell upon the traitorous servant. His eldest son became mad; his daughter, a striking beauty, was suddenly struck with leprosy; his younger son was drowned, and he himself was arraigned. That servant who is not true to his master—will never be true to God or his own soul.
(4) The servant is to honour his master, by serving him, as with love, so with silence, that is, without arguing and repining. "Exhort servants to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them." Tit 2:9. In the Greek, "not giving cross answers." Some servants who are slow at work, are quick at speech. And instead of being sorry for a fault, provoke their masters by unfitting language. Were the heart more humble—the tongue would be more silent. The apostle's words are, "not talking back to them."
To those servants who honour their masters, or family-fathers, by submission, diligence, faithfulness, love, and humble silence—great encouragement is given. "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward! It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:22-24. In serving your masters, you serve Christ, and he will not let you lose your labour. From serving on earth, you shall be taken up to reign in heaven, and shall sit with Christ upon his throne. Rev 3:21.
Having shown how servants are to honour their masters, I shall next show how MASTERS are to conduct themselves towards their servants, so as to be honoured by them.
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