Answer: By father and mother, in the Fifth Commandment, are meant, not only natural parents₁, but all superiors in age₂ and gifts₃; and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family₄, church₅, or commonwealth.₆

1. Prov 23:22, 25; Eph 6:1–2;
2. 1 Tim 5:1–2;
3. Gen 4:20–22; 45:8;
4. 2 Kgs 5:13;
5. 2 Kgs 2:12; 13:14; Gal 4:19;
6. Isa 49:23