content/08/07.md
---
pagetitle: What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
date: February 19, 2020
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short_date: "0807"
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---
#### Larger Catechism
<span class="q">Q 129.</span> What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
<span class="q">A.</span> It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love,[^fnref:wlc1] pray for,[^fnref:wlc2] and bless their inferiors;[^fnref:wlc3] to instruct,[^fnref:wlc4] counsel, and admonish them;[^fnref:wlc5] countenancing,[^fnref:wlc6] commending,[^fnref:wlc7] and rewarding such as do well;[^fnref:wlc8] and discountenancing,[^fnref:wlc9] reproving, and chastising such as do ill;[^fnref:wlc10] protecting,[^fnref:wlc11] and providing for them all things necessary for soul[^fnref:wlc12] and body:[^fnref:wlc13] and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God,[^fnref:wlc14] honor to themselves,[^fnref:wlc15] and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them.[^fnref:wlc16]
[^fnref:wlc1]: <div class="esv"><h5>Colossians 3:19</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p51003019.01-1">Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.</p> </div><h5>Titus 2:4</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p56002004.01-2">and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc2]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Samuel 12:23</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p09012023.01-1">Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.</p> </div><h5>Job 1:5</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p18001005.01-2">And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc3]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Kings 8:55-56</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p11008055.01-1">And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying, “Blessed be the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span> who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant.</p> </div><h5>Hebrews 7:7</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p58007007.01-2">It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.</p> </div><h5>Genesis 49:28</h5> <div class="esv-text"> <p id="p01049028.05-3">All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc4]: <div class="esv"><h5>Deuteronomy 6:6-7</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p05006006.01-1">And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc5]: <div class="esv"><h5>Ephesians 6:4</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p49006004.01-1">Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc6]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Peter 3:7</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p60003007.01-1">Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc7]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Peter 2:14</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p60002014.01-1">or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.</p> </div><h5>Romans 13:3</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45013003.01-2">For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc8]: <div class="esv"><h5>Esther 6:3</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p17006003.01-1">And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc9]: <div class="esv"><h5>Romans 13:3-4</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p45013003.01-1">For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc10]: <div class="esv"><h5>Proverbs 29:15</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p20029015.01-1">The rod and reproof give wisdom,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.</p> </div> </div><h5>1 Peter 2:14</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p60002014.01-2">or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc11]: <div class="esv"><h5>Isaiah 1:10</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p23001010.01-1">Hear the word of the <span class="small-caps">Lord</span>,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>you rulers of Sodom!<br /> Give ear to the teaching of our God,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>you people of Gomorrah!</p> </div> </div><h5>Isaiah 1:17</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p23001017.01-2"><span class="indent"></span>learn to do good;<br /> seek justice,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>correct oppression;<br /> bring justice to the fatherless,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>plead the widow's cause.</p> </div> </div><h5>Job 29:12-17</h5> <div class="esv-text"><div class="block-indent"> <p class="line-group" id="p18029012.01-3">because I delivered the poor who cried for help,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and the fatherless who had none to help him.<br /> The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.<br /> I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;<br /> <span class="indent"></span>my justice was like a robe and a turban.<br /> I was eyes to the blind<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and feet to the lame.<br /> I was a father to the needy,<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.<br /> I broke the fangs of the unrighteous<br /> <span class="indent"></span>and made him drop his prey from his teeth. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc12]: <div class="esv"><h5>Ephesians 6:4</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p49006004.01-1">Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc13]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Timothy 5:8</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p54005008.01-1">But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc14]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Timothy 4:12</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p54004012.01-1">Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.</p> </div><h5>Titus 2:3-5</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p56002003.01-2">Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc15]: <div class="esv"><h5>1 Kings 3:28</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p11003028.01-1">And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>
[^fnref:wlc16]: <div class="esv"><h5>Titus 2:15</h5> <div class="esv-text"><p id="p56002015.01-1">Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (<a href="http://www.esv.org" class="copyright">ESV</a>)</p> </div> </div>