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Third Commandment into the Second again； and through that very
calling on the Name of God and praise； faith grows； and becomes
conscious of itself； and so strengthens itself； through the two
works of the Third and of the Second Commandment。 Thus faith goes
out into the works and through the works comes to itself again；
just as the sun goes forth unto its setting and comes again unto
its rising。 For this reason the Scriptures associate the day with
peaceful living in works； the night with passive living in
adversity； and faith lives and works； goes out and comes in； in
both； as Christ says； John ix。
XXV。 This order of good works we pray in the Lord's Prayer。 The
first is this； that we say： 〃Our Father； Who art in heaven〃；
these are the words of the first work of faith； which； according
to the First Commandment； does not doubt that it has a gracious
Father in heaven。 The second： 〃Hallowed be Thy Name；〃 in which
faith asks that God's Name； praise and honor be glorified； and
calls upon it in every need； as the Second Commandment says。 The
third： 〃Thy kingdom come；〃 in which we pray for the true Sabbath
and rest； peaceful cessation of our works； that God's work alone
be done in us； and so God rule in us as in His own kingdom； as
He says； Luke xvii； 〃Behold； God's kingdom is nowhere else except
within you。〃 The fourth petition is 〃Thy will be done〃； in which
we pray that we may keep and have the Seven Commandments of the
Second Table； in which faith is exercised toward our neighbor；
just as in the first three it is exercised in works toward God
alone。 And these are the petitions in which stands the word
〃Thou； Thy； Thy； Thy；〃 because they seek only what belongs to
God； all the others say 〃our； us； our；〃 etc； for in them we pray
for our goods and blessedness。
Let this； then； suffice as a plain； hasty explanation of the
First Table of Moses； pointing out to simple folk what are the
highest of good works。
The Second Table follows。
〃Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother。〃
From this Commandment we learn that after the excellent works of
the first three Commandments there are no better works than to
obey and serve all those who are set over us as superiors。 For
this reason also disobedience is a greater sin than murder；
unchastity； theft and dishonesty； and all that these may include。
For we can in no better way learn how to distinguish between
greater and lesser sins than by noting the order of the
Commandments of God； although there are distinctions also within
the works of each Commandment。 For who does not know that to
curse is a greater sin than to be angry； to strike than to curse；
to strike father and mother more than to strike any one else？
Thus these seven Commandments teach us how we are to exercise
ourselves in good works toward men； and first of all toward our
superiors。
The first work is that we honor our own father and mother。 And
this honor consists not only in respectful demeanor； but in this：
that we obey them； look up to； esteem and heed their words and
example； accept what they say； keep silent and endure their
treatment of us； so long as it is not contrary to the first three
Commandments； in addition； when they need it； that we provide
them with food； clothing and shelter。 For not for nothing has He
said： 〃Thou shalt honor them〃； He does not say： 〃Thou shalt love
them；〃 although this also must be done。 But honor is higher than
mere love and includes a certain fear； which unites with love；
and causes a man to fear offending them more than he fears the
punishment。 Just as there is fear in the honor we pay a
sanctuary； and yet we do not flee from it as from a punishment；
but draw near to it all the more。 Such a fear mingled with love
is the true honor； the other fear without any love is that which
we have toward things which we despise or flee from； as we fear
the hangman or punishment。 There is no honor in that； for it is
a fear without all love； nay； fear that has with it hatred and
enmity。 Of this we have a proverb of St。 Jerome： What we fear；
that we also hate。 With such a fear God does not wish to be
feared or honored； nor to have us honor our parents； but with the
first； which is mingled with love and confidence。
II。 This work appears easy； but few regard it aright。 For where
the parents are truly pious and love their children not according
to the flesh； but （as they ought） instruct and direct them by
words and works to serve God according to the first three
Commandments； there the child's own will is constantly broken；
and it must do； leave undone； and suffer what its nature would
most gladly do otherwise； and thereby it finds occasion to
despise its parents； to murmur against them； or to do worse
things。 There love and fear depart； unless they have God's grace。
In like manner； when they punish and chastise； as they ought （at
times even unjustly； which； however； does not harm the soul's
salvation）； our evil nature resents the correction。 Beside all
this； there are some so wicked that they are ashamed of their
parents because of poverty； lowly birth； deformity or dishonor；
and allow these things to influence them more than the high
Commandment of God； Who is above all things； and has with
benevolent intent given them such parents； to exercise and try
them in His Commandment。 But the matter becomes still worse when
the child has children of its own； then love descends to them；
and detracts very much from the love and honor toward the
parents。
But what is said and commanded of parents must also be understood
of those who； when the parents are dead or absent； take their
place； such as relatives； god…parents； sponsors； temporal lords
and spiritual fathers。 For every one must be ruled and be subject
to other men。 Wherefore we here see again how many good works are
taught in this Commandment； since in it all our life is made
subject to other men。 Hence it comes that obedience is so highly
praised and all virtue and good works are included in it。
III。 There is another dishonoring of parents； much more dangerous
and subtile than this first； which adorns itself and passes for
a real honor； that is； when a child has its own way； and the
parents through natural love allow it。 Here there is indeed
mutual honor； here there is mutual love； and on all sides it is
a precious thing； parents and child take mutual pleasure in one
another。
This plague is so common that instances of the first form of
dishonoring are very seldom seen。 This is due to the fact that
the parents are blinded； and neither know nor honor God according
to the first three Commandments； hence also they cannot see what
the children lack； and how they ought to teach and train them。
For this reason they train them for worldly honors； pleasure and
possessions； that they may by all means please men and reach high
positions： this the children like； and they obey very gladly
without g