Library › Metropolitan Platon of Moscow › Orthodox Doctrine (Summary of Christian Divinity)

Orthodox Doctrine (Summary of Christian Divinity)

Metropolitan Platon of Moscow, tr. Pinkerton, 1814

9. Part 3, Section 9: The Fifth Commandment

The fifth commandment requires that we should render to our parents, and under the same name to our sovereign, to religious and civil governors, to instructors and benefactors, to masters and elders, all due reverence and subjection, and to every man sincere love.

This commandment is summed up in few words, but it contains in itself extensive obligations. It requires,

1. That we should honour our parents; and this honour consists in loving them heartily, behaving before them respectfully, obeying their commands, and undertaking no important business without their blessing: It also requires us to bear patiently with their faults, sympathise with them in their griefs, on every occasion defend their honour, and till death remain thankful to them for the education and benefits received from them; proving this thankfulness by every possible act of kindness; and more particularly should they come to want or old age.

Parents ought to provide for the wants of their children, and endeavour to preserve their health till they come to the years of maturity, to educate them in the fear of the Lord, and to avoid giving them a bad example in their own conduct, to search for good teachers to instruct them in the law of God, and in the other branches of knowledge, according to their capacity, and to use every exertion for putting them into a favourable situation in life. They ought also to guard against treating them with harshness and severity, but sometimes with condescending magnanimity to correct their faults; for the apostle commands, “Parents, provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged,” Col. iii. 21. And as long as they live, they ought to be to their children their first and best of counsellors.

2. That we obey the sovereign, who is the supreme magistrate, and the first governor under God. We ought, therefore, to love him with our hearts, and render to him high honours; obey his will, and fulfil his commands willingly without murmuring; we ought to pay the tribute cheerfully, to pray to God for his health and prosperity, and in time of need not to spare our very lives in defence of his honour, and in supporting him against enemies, rebels, and traitors. “For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.” Rom. xiii. 1, 2.

The duty of the sovereign is to endeavour to promote the peace and happiness of his subjects, to see that justice be dispensed, and transgressors punished; that the spiritual and civil powers perform the duties belonging to their offices; to reward the good, and punish the irregular and wicked; and in every thing to shew himself a father who diligently careth for the good of his children. Also to promote the prosperity of the church, and defend her against despisers and defamers; to propagate her doctrines, and thereby civilize his subjects, and bring them to the practice of piety; for the Holy Ghost, in Isaiah xlix. 23, calleth orthodox sovereigns, “Nursing fathers to the church.” This commandment farther requires men,

3. To be subject both to religious and civil governors; to love them unfeignedly; defend their honour; render them all due respect, and suffer patiently their reproofs. But the duty of the religious powers is to instruct men in the way of salvation, and recommend good morality; and that of the civil powers to administer justice, and observe that those who are subject to them perform the respective duties of their stations.

4. We are required to love our instructors and benefactors, and for ever remain grateful to them; that is, in every difficulty assist them, and on every occasion behave towards them with respect and kindness.

5. Servants are here taught to respect their masters; that is, entertain for them a filial reverence; serve them faithfully without laziness; obey them without murmuring, and even suffer their caprice with patience; not to steal from them, but to preserve their master’s property as if it were their own, and on every occasion faithfully to defend their name and honour. And masters ought to behave towards their servants like fathers; instruct them in religion and morality; support them liberally; not lay too much labour upon them, and not burden their peasants by laying too heavy taxes upon them.¹ They ought also to punish them with moderation, and with the intention of correcting them, and not to gratify a revengeful spirit, always remembering this warning of the apostle’s, “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” Col. iv. 1.

6. This commandment also requires us to love our neighbours; that is, to conduct ourselves towards every one with sincerity, kindness, civility, and condescension, and to be generous and merciful. Now, active mercy feeds the hungry, gives drink to the thirsty, clothes the naked, visits those that are sick and in prison, receives the stranger with love, preserves others from harm, and labours to promote their advantage. There are also spiritual acts of mercy, namely, to guard our neighbour against sin, to instruct the ignorant in the ways of religion and piety, to give good counsels, to bear reproach not only patiently, but also to forgive it, and earnestly to pray to the merciful God for the salvation of all men. As the peace and prosperity of mankind depend on the complying with this commandment, so God has promised peculiar blessings to those who sincerely obey it.

It is unnecessary to particularize those who sin against this commandment; for all such as do not fulfil the duties enumerated above, are transgressors of it; and in breaking it the following sins are included, disobedience to parents, perverseness, murmurings, unfaithfulness, rebellion, deceit, self-love, ambition, the love of riches, niggardliness, unmercifulness, rudeness, pride, hatred, condemning of others, creating offences, and similar vices.

Previous · Contents · Next