Article December 3, 1966 Issue

A Commandment for Family Use

PERRY H. RADCLIFFE

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."^{Ex. 20:12:} Here is the fifth commandment. In evaluating this commandment, let us consider a statement made by Mrs. Eddy: "The Scriptures are very sacred. Our aim must be to have them understood spiritually, for only by this understanding can truth be gained."^{Science and Health, p. 547;}

It is common practice to accept the fifth commandment as revealing the filial duties which children owe to their parents, and rightly so. But this view touches upon only a small portion of the meaning. Viewed in the light which Christian Science throws on the Bible, the commandment is seen to have a more profound spiritual meaning and a much broader base. In fact, it applies not just to children but to every individual.

Christ Jesus told his followers, "Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."^{Matt. 23:9:} In like vein Mrs. Eddy writes, "Father-Mother is the name for Deity, which indicates His tender relationship to His spiritual creation."^{Science and Health, p. 332;} He is our Father-Mother and we are His children. If the commandment is stated in the following manner, its spiritual meaning becomes apparent: Honor God as thy Father-Mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." When we honor our Father-Mother God, we shall naturally be humane toward our human parents.