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Question 64 what is required in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor and performing the duties belonging to every one in their several places and relations as superiors, inferiors or equals.
Episode: Question & Answer 64
Date: May 29, 2026
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Guest/Speaker: Sinclair Ferguson
This episode explores Question 64 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “What is required in the fifth commandment?” Sinclair Ferguson unpacks the commandment’s broader application, discussing the duties and honor owed within all kinds of human relationships—whether we find ourselves as superiors, inferiors, or equals. The discussion focuses on how Christians are called to mirror God’s order and respect for authority, not just within families but across all spheres of life.
“The fifth commandment isn’t limited to family—it’s about how we live before God in every relationship.”
– Sinclair Ferguson (approx. 00:20)
“In every relationship—whether you are the employer, the employee, the parent or the child—there’s something Godlike about the order he’s established.”
– Sinclair Ferguson (approx. 02:10)
“One of the most important things a Sunday school teacher or a Christian parent can do is help shape the way children relate honorably to the people around them.”
– Sinclair Ferguson (approx. 04:45)
“It’s only as we learn this basic principle of honor and duty, in the power of Christ, that we’re prepared for the solid food—the deeper doctrines of the Christian life.”
– Sinclair Ferguson (approx. 06:50)
On God’s Order in Relationships:
“In every relationship—whether you are the employer, the employee, the parent or the child—there’s something Godlike about the order he’s established.”
(Sinclair Ferguson, 02:10)
On Teaching the Commandment:
“One of the most important things a Sunday school teacher or a Christian parent can do is help shape the way children relate honorably to the people around them.”
(Sinclair Ferguson, 04:45)
On Spiritual Growth:
“It’s only as we learn this basic principle of honor and duty, in the power of Christ, that we’re prepared for the solid food—the deeper doctrines of the Christian life.”
(Sinclair Ferguson, 06:50)
Sinclair Ferguson communicates with pastoral warmth, clarity, and encouragement. He stresses the practical, daily importance of honoring others as part of Christian discipleship—making clear that doctrine and daily life are always intertwined. For listeners, the episode offers a fresh appreciation for the “solid food” of God’s commandments and their vital role in spiritual maturity.
