OUR NEIGHBOR means every one. We are to love all men as we love ourselves; [Matt. 7:12] not only our relatives, friends, and acquaintances, but strangers, enemies, and people of all nations and climes. We must be ready to do good to all who are in need of our help and kindness. Compare the Parable of the Good Samaritan. [Luke 10:30-37] CHAPTER VIII. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. OUR PARENTS AND SUPERIORS. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. EXPLANATION. _What is meant by this Commandment?_ We should so fear and love God as not to despise nor displease our parents and superiors, but honor, serve, obey, love and esteem them. * * * * * PARENTS are God's representatives in the family for the maintenance of law and order in it. They are charged by God with the care and training of their children, and are clothed by Him with authority over them. Their will is law for their children, so long as it does not conflict with the law of God. SUPERIORS are those who are placed over us in a position of authority in the Family, Church, School, or State; e. g., guardians, step-parents, grand-parents, pastors, teachers, rulers, etc. They also are God's representatives to maintain order, and are to be honored and obeyed as such. In every case of a conflict of authority, we must "obey God rather than men." [Acts 5:29] This commandment _forbids_ us to despise or displease our parents and superiors, and _commands_ us to honor, serve, obey, love, and esteem them. OUR DUTY TO OUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, GUARDIANS, ETC. I. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN. We must not DESPISE them, mock at them, [Prov. 39:17+] make light of them, think ourselves wiser or above their authority, nor speak disrespectfully of them or to them. [Deut 27:16+] We must not DISPLEASE them by lack of affection, grumbling, disobedience, stubbornness, rebelliousness, or wickedness. [Exod. 21:15+] II. WHAT IS COMMANDED. We should HONOR them as those who are placed over us by God's appointment, look up to them, and always treat them with proper respect [Lev. 19:3, Eph 6:2, 3+] and consideration. SERVE them, be helpful to them, lighten their burdens, and anticipate their wishes. [I Tim. 5:4] OBEY them by cheerfully and promptly doing their will, even when it is not to our liking. [Eph. 6:1, Col. 3:20+, Prov. 1:8] LOVE them, and show our love by a constant desire and effort to please them. We should call to mind what they have done and still do for us, that our love for them may grow deep and tender. [John 19:26, 27] ESTEEM them. We should regard and appreciate them as a precious gift of God. Children who have lost father or mother have met with a great loss.