Honoring God-appointed authority
This article by Rodney Kleyn provides a Reformed exposition of the Fifth Commandment as presented in the Heidelberg Catechism's Lord's Day 39, emphasizing the biblical requirement to honor authority in all spheres of life. Through the lens of covenant obedience and the doctrine of human depravity, Kleyn demonstrates how submission to God-appointed authority reflects true love for God and neighbor, addressing the contemporary problem of widespread rebellion against authority as a mark of the last days.
Lord's Day 39 Question 104. What doth God require in the fifth commandment? Answer. That I show all honor, love, and fidelity to my father and mother and all in authority over me, and submit myself to their good instruction and correction with due obedience; and also patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities, since it pleases God to govern us by their hand. The law of the Ten Commandments is commonly divided into two groups: the first table (commandments 1-4) having to do with our...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org