Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 64 of 107
What is required in the fifth commandment?
A.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.
Which Bible passages support this answer?
The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 64. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.
What does this answer mean?
The fifth commandment reaches beyond parents. It requires keeping the honor and doing the duties that belong to each person in their place and relationships: toward those over us (superiors), those under us (inferiors), and those alongside us (equals). Parents and children, teachers and students, and friends all have duties to one another.
What can we ask our children?
- Who are some people God has put over you?
- Do parents also have duties toward their children?
- How should we treat our brothers, sisters and friends?
Can I print this question?
Yes. Every printable here is free for home, church and co-op use. Press Print on any of these pages for a clean sheet.
- Memory card for question 64 (fold-over card, question on the front)
- Copywork page for question 64 (trace, then copy)
- Memory cards for questions 61 to 70
- Copywork for questions 61 to 70
- All Westminster Shorter Catechism printables
Text: The Shorter Catechism, constitutional text of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Public domain (1647). Proof references: Scripture proofs added by the Westminster Assembly, as transcribed by The Westminster Standard. Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible; see permissions.
Checked against a second edition on November 15, 2026. Explanation and questions by Household Theology Press. Last updated November 15, 2026.