12 Honor your father and your mother so that your days may be lengthened in the land that the Lord your God, will give you. (Exodus 20:12)
The Fourth Commandment reminds us to honor our father and our mother by treating them with the respect and love that they are due. We should obey them in all things, as long as what they tell us to do is moral. We have a duty to care for them in their later years as they cared for us when we were younger.
The Fourth Commandment extends beyond our parents to all those who are in lawful authority over us—for instance, teachers, pastors, government officials, and employers. While we may not love them in the same way that we love our parents, we are still required to honor and respect them.
Why did God command us to honor our parents? (10:15)
How to Love Your Difficult Parents (7:29)
Here are the Catholic Ten Commandments:
- I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not kill.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
