What is meant by this Commandment?
We should so fear and love God as not to despise nor displease our parents and superiors, but honor, serve, obey, love and esteem them.
PARENTS are God's representatives in the family for the maintenance of law and order in it. They are charged by God with the care and training of their children, and are clothed by Him with authority over them. Their will is law for their children, so long as it does not conflict with the law of God.
SUPERIORS are those who are placed over us in a position of authority in the Family, Church, School, or State; e. g., guardians, step-parents, grand-parents, pastors, teachers, rulers, etc. They also are God's representatives to maintain order, and are to be honored and obeyed as such. In every case of a conflict of authority, we must "obey God rather than men." [Acts 5:29]
This commandment forbids us to despise or displease our parents and superiors, and commands us to honor, serve, obey, love, and esteem them.
OUR DUTY TO OUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, GUARDIANS, ETC.
I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN.
We must not
DESPISE them, mock at them, [Prov. 39:17+] make light of them, think ourselves wiser or above their authority, nor speak disrespectfully of them or to them. [Deut 27:16+]