HenryWSC 64

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 64

Show Catechism Question

Is it the duty of children to reverence their parents? Yes: Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father,
Lev. 19:3
. And must they give honour to them? Yes: If I be a father, where is my honour?
Mal. 1:6
. And may they upon no account despise them? No: Despise not thy mother when she is old,
Prov. 23:22
. Ought they to carry themselves respectfully towards them? Yes: King Solomon rose up to meet his mother, and bowed himself to her,
1 Kings 2:19
. And to speak honourably of them? Yes: Her children rose up, and called her blessed,
Prov. 31:28
.
Is it the duty of children to obey their parents? Yes: Children, obey your parents in the Lord,
Eph. 6:1
. And to receive their instructions? Yes: Hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother,
Prov. 1:8
. And to submit to their correction? Yes: The fathers of our flesh corrected us, and we gave them reverence,
Heb. 12:9
. Should children labour to rejoice the hearts of their parents? Yes: My son, if thy heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice,
Prov. 23:15
. And to requite them? Yes: let them show piety at home, and requite their parents,
1 Tim. 5:4
. And to have their consent in disposing of themselves? Yes: Jacob obeyed his father, and his mother, and went to Padan-aram, for a wife,
Gen. 28:7
. Is Christ an example of this subjection? Yes: for he went with his parents to Nazareth, and was subject to them,
Luke 2:51
.
Is it the duty of children to be respectful to the aged? Yes: Thou shall rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man,
Lev. 19:32
. And must they be observant of their teachers? Yes: for they will mourn at the last, who obey not the voice of their teachers, and incline not their ear to them that instruct them,
Prov. 5:11
,
Prov. 5:13
. And must they order themselves lowly and reverently to all their betters? Yes: ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder,
1 Pet. 5:5
.
Is it the duty of parents to be tender of their children? Yes; for can a woman forget her sucking child?
Isa. 49:15
. And mild toward them? Yes; for a father pities his children,
Ps. 103:13
. And to bear with them? Yes: as a man spares his son that serves him,
Mal. 3:17
. And yet must they correct them when it is necessary? Yes; for he that spares his rod hates his son; but he that loves him, chastens him betimes,
Prov. 13:24
.
Is it the duty of parents to pray for their children? Yes: Job offered for his sons burnt-offerings, according to the number of them all,
Job 1:5
. And to bless God for them? Yes: They are the children which God hath graciously given thy servant,
Gen. 33:5
. Are they to bless them in the name of the lord? Yes: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau,
Heb. 11:20
. And are they to provide for them what is convenient? Yes: If any provide not for his own, especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel,
1 Tim. 5:8
.
Is it the duty of parents to bring up their children in the fear of God? Yes: Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,
Eph. 6:4
. And to teach them the things of God? Yes: Thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children,
Deut. 6:7
. And to oblige them to their duty? Yes: I know Abraham, that he will command his children to keep the way of the Lord,
Gen. 18:19
. And ought they to set them a good example? Yes: I will walk within my house with a perfect heart,
Ps. 101:2
. And must they patiently part with their children when God calls for them? Yes: Thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,
Gen. 22:16
.
Is it the duty of servants to honour their masters and mistresses? Yes: Let as many servants as are under the yoke, count their own masters worthy of all honour,
1 Tim. 6:1
. Is it their duty to obey them? Yes: Servants be obedient to them that are your masters,
Eph. 6:5
. And to be just and true to them? Yes: not purloining, but showing all good fidelity,
Titus 2:10
. Ought they to be diligent in the duty of their place? Yes: What, though they suffer unjustly? Yes: Servants be subject not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward,
1 Pet. 2:18
. And must they have an eye to God in all: Yes: As to the Lord, and not to men,
Col. 3:23
.
Is it the duty of masters to be just to their servants? Yes: Masters give to your servants that which is just and equal,
Col. 4:1
. And to be gentle towards them? Yes: forbearing threatening,
Eph. 6:9
. Should all masters of families worship God with their families? Yes: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,
Josh. 24:15
. And should they restrain sin in their families? Yes: Thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle,
Job 22:28
.
Is it the duty of wives to be respectful to their husbands? Yes: Let the wife see that she reverence her husband,
Eph. 5:33
. And to love them? Yes: they must love their husbands, and love their children,
Titus 2:4
. Must they be submissive to their husbands? Yes: Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord,
Col. 3:18
. Must they be faithful and obedient to them? Yes: they must be chaste keepers at home, obedient to their own husbands,
Titus 2:5
. Must they receive instruction from them? Yes: If they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home,
1 Cor. 14:35
. Must they be helpers to them in religion? Yes: that they may be won by the conversation of the wives,
1 Pet. 3:1
.
Is it the duty of husbands to love their wives? Yes: Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them
Col. 3:19
. Must they love them dearly? Yes: Let every one love his wife even as himself,
Eph. 5:33
. And delight in them? Yes: rejoice with the wife of thy youth,
Prov. 5:18–19
. And be tender of them? Yes: Giving honour to the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,
1 Pet. 3:7
.
Is it the duty of husbands and wives to be pleasing one to another? Yes: He that is married careth how to please his wife, and she that is married how to please her husband,
1 Cor. 7:33–34
. Is it their duty to live in the fear of God, and to pray together? Yes: as heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered,
1 Pet. 3:7
. Should they promote the eternal salvation one of another? Yes: What knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
1 Cor. 7:16
.
Is it the duty of subjects to reverence their magistrates? Yes: Fear God, honour the king,
1 Pet. 2:17
. And to obey them in the Lord? Yes: we must be subject to principalities and powers, and obey magistrates,
Titus 3:1
. And to be loyal to them? Yes: for the powers that be are ordained of God,
Rom. 13:1
. Is it our duty to pray for magistrates? Yes: for kings, and for all that are in authority,
1 Tim. 2:2
. And to pay them tribute? Yes: tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom,
Rom. 13:7
. Must we be peaceable under their government? Yes: that we under them may lead a quiet and peaceable life,
1 Tim. 2:2
. And all this conscientiously? Yes: Ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake,
Rom. 13:5
. Ought magistrates to be as parents to their subjects? Yes: Kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and queens thy nursing mothers,
Isa. 49:23
.
Is it the duty of people to love and respect their ministers? Yes: Know them which labour among you, and esteem them very highly in love, for their work’s sake,
1 Thess. 5:12–13
. Ought they to submit to their instructions? Yes: Obey your guides, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls,
Heb. 13:7
. And to provide for their comfortable subsistence? Yes: Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth,
Gal. 6:6
. And ought ministers to be as spiritual fathers to their people? Yes: We exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
1 Thess. 2:11
.
Is it the duty of equals to be kind one to another? Yes: Be kindly affectioned one to another, with brotherly love,
Rom. 12:10
. And to be respectful one to another? Yes: in honour preferring one another,
Rom. 12:10
. And to be submissive one to another? Yes: Yea, all of ye, be subject one to another,
1 Pet. 5:5
.
HenryWSC 64