COLLATION V.
On the fourth precept.
Summary.
Introduction: curiosity dissipates understanding, 1.
Repetition, 2. 3.
On the fourth precept, part I. The literal sense is explained. In the first place, the precept of beneficence is rightly placed, then the precepts of innocence; a threefold reason is distinguished in the father, and according to this also a threefold duty of children, 4.
The three duties are explained in general, 5.
On the promise attached to this precept; to the threefold honor to be rendered to parents corresponds a threefold promised reward, 6-9.
On obedience in particular: obedience is owed in three things, 10.
Part II. The spiritual sense is explained. Three things in the father: first, authority, by reason of which obedience is owed: those also are to be honored who preside over the commonwealth, over political or ecclesiastical affairs, over monastic affairs, 11-13.
Second, age and weakness, by reason of which sustenance, instruction, and protection are to be provided to all who are similarly in need, 14.
Third, friendliness, by reason of which every person is to be honored by willing good to him as regards affection, effect, and sign, 15. - But in these matters an order is to be observed according to the reason of proximity, likeness, and obligation, 16-18. - Repetition, 19. - Two examples, 20. 21.
1. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest be long-lived upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee.
What God hath commanded thee, think upon always, and in many of his works be not curious. These last words are spoken especially to the learned; in which Ecclesiasticus teaches to think on useful things and to avoid curious things. Useful things indeed direct us in the way of salvation; but curious things distract us from the way of salvation and dissipate our understanding. A great part of understanding is lost on account of curiosity; and yet nothing in us is more precious than understanding. We grieve greatly when we lose gold; we ought to grieve much more if we lose understanding, because nothing is so dear as the act of understanding.
We are about to speak of the precepts, and we need the Lord to illuminate our understanding; therefore at the beginning let us beseech God, etc.
2. Honor thy father, etc. I was telling you that inasmuch as the rational soul is to be ordered toward the Creator and toward the creature, accordingly there is a twofold tablet on which the law of God is written. In the first tablet are contained three commandments ordering us toward God, according to the three things appropriated to the three divine persons and according to the threefold operation of the soul. In the first commandment is prescribed humble adoration of the supreme majesty; in the second, faithful confession of the supreme truth; in the third, sincere love of the divine goodness. These three commandments are the foundation of all the precepts of the Law. On this account, everyone who is God-fearing, truthful, and devoted to God is bound to keep these principally.
3. Now I say that in the second table seven precepts are contained; one is affirmative, and the other six are negative. The reason for this distinction is as follows: because all commandments are reduced to two: do to another what you wish to be done to you; do not do to another what you do not wish to be done to you. And according to this, two precepts are taken. The first is the precept of innocence, the second is the precept of beneficence, which are the two parts of justice.
4. Now I say that the precepts are ordered according to their nobility; and beneficence is better than innocence: therefore the commandment of beneficence is placed before the commandment of innocence; and it was handed down to the Jews synecdochically thus: Honor your father and your mother.
And here is set forth first the form of the commandment, when he says: Honor, etc. Second, the promise is added, where it says: That you may be long-lived upon the earth.
5. Understand according to the literal sense that father designates the person of the one who begets, the person of the one who instructs, and the person of the one who rears, because a father, having a son, begets him, instructs and nourishes him, and it belongs to the father to bequeath his goods to his son: and according to these three things, the father in relation to the son holds the character of origin, the character of governance, and the character of benefactor. And accordingly a threefold honor is owed to the father: the honor of reverence, the honor of obedience, and the honor of beneficence.
First, I say, to the father, insofar as he holds the character of origin, the honor of reverence is owed; whence in Ecclesiasticus: He who fears God will honor his father and his mother, and will serve as masters those who begot him.
Second, by reason of governance, the honor of obedience is owed to the father; whence the Apostle to the Ephesians: Children, obey your parents, for this is just. Honor your father and your mother: which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may be well with you, and that you may be long-lived upon the earth.
Third, the honor of beneficence is owed to the father, because he holds the character of benefactor: whence in Ecclesiasticus: Son, support your father in his old age, and do not grieve him in his life.
It is therefore commanded that a threefold honor be rendered to parents, namely the honor of reverence, obedience, and beneficence. And this is the first commandment that you must keep on account of the promise, namely that it may be well with you, and that you may be long-lived upon the earth.
6. But is it always true that they live longer? For we see that this sometimes fails: therefore God is deceitful in his promise.