The Fifth Commandment
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What is the principle behind this commandment?
Thanksgiving toward the one who brought you into this world
The Sermon Notebook: Old Testament Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother (Exodus 20:12)
It is in the parental relationship that we learn first how to submit to the Lord and then how we are to serve our fellow man.
The WSC expresses the concept of authority in the language of superiority and inferiority. It is especially important to recognize the respects in which Scripture says that we are not equal.
Two tethered reasons that lead to the reward of longevity.
The Lord’s blessing upon you as you honor your parents
Your own increase in wisdom as you receive their instruction
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Chapter 31: The Fifth Commandment: Honoring Authorities
With this commandment, we move from what is sometimes called “the first table” of the law to the “second”—from the first four commands, which focus on our duty toward God, to the last six, which focus on our duty toward one another.2 The transition is from an emphasis on loving God with all our heart to an emphasis on loving our neighbor as ourselves
One of the reasons for the fall of Southern Judah is failing to keep the 5th commandment.
7 Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you.
Honor
Honor
Honor / kavod = to be weighty, to be respected.
John Calvin: The concept of honor includes reverence, obedience, and gratitude (gratitude = concrete acts of thanksgiving, such as financial and material support).
Reverence = phobos / fear (Lev. 19:3; Rom. 13:7; 1 Pet 2:18).
Obedience/Submission (Deut. 6:6-7; Prov. 1:10; 2:1; 3:1; 4:10).
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Submission (Normative Perspective)
Now obedience is a form of submission. Submission is the broader category, obedience the narrower one. We express submission in ways other than by obedience. We show submission in our demeanor, our respectful way of listening, our willingness to hear teaching or rebuke, our gentle manner when we must exhort. But sometimes, the proper way to submit is by literal obedience.
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Children, Obey Your Parents
This is the attitude that goes along with the behavior. The action is obedience, the attitude is honor. This is the attitude that corresponds to the act of obedience. Our obedience is not to be selfish; our obedience is not to be reluctant. Our obedience is not to be unwilling. Our obedience is to be coupled with honor, respect, reverence, regard, love and affection for a parent
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Submission (Normative Perspective)
From those we respect, we expect to learn, and we are willing to change out of respect for their words. When we must disagree, we do so reluctantly, and we express even that disagreement in respectful language
1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,
Bad example: the young Rehoboam who refused to listen to the counsel of his father’s advisers (1 Kgs 12).
Honoring parents is the primary (most important) commandment regarding human relationships.
The sin of dishonoring parents is the origin of all sins committed among people. Those who sincerely honor their parents would not commit murder, adultry, theft, false witness, or covet. The sin of dishonoring one’s parents is greater than breaking commandments 6-10.
Jesus said that anyone who sought eternal life must honor their parents and keep the commandments regarding human relationships (Luke 18:20). Those who did not honor their parents could not honor the invisible God.
How does the honor due only to God differ from the honor due to our parents?
Jesus puts loyalty to Himself above loyalty to one’s parents. This is a monumentous claim to deity.
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Submission (Normative Perspective)
Obedience to other human beings, however, is always limited. God’s authority alone is supreme and limits every form of human authority. When human authorities command us to disobey God, or they forbid us to do what God commands, then we must reply with Peter and John, “We must obey God rather than men” (
For children, honoring their parents who gave them life is equivalent to honoring God who is the Lord of life.
Our reverence for parents is not in spite of our reverence for God, but because of it.
Does Honoring God become a way to avoid Honoring Parents?
Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ use of the Corban tradition
4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Reverence (Existential Perspective)
Mark 7:11
The calling to honor God does not run counter to the calling to honor one’s parents. You don’t choose one or the other. It’s not either/or. It’s both/and.
We honor our parents and obey the 5th commandment as part of our obedience to the 1st commandment.
“As the Lord your God commanded you” (Deut. 5:16). See also Lev. 19:32; Eph. 6:1-3; Col. 3:20.
Children are to obey their parents in all things.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
The Gk word for “obey” here is ὑπακούω, which is stronger than the word referring to a wife’s submission to her husband (ὑποτάσσω).
The boundaries of children’s obedience are all things. They do not choose what they want to obey. They are to obey limitlessly and continuously.
Jesus submitted to His earthly parents.
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
Dishonoring one’s parents
Dishonoring one’s parents
Any unfilial child was to be put to death.
15 “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.
17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
9 For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.
The Sermon Notebook: Old Testament Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother (Exodus 20:12)
when we are out of step in the home, we will be out of step with God and with our fellow human beings
John MacArthur Sermon Archive Children, Obey Your Parents
One school teacher put it this way, teachers are afraid of the principals, the principals are afraid of the superintendents, the superintendents are afraid of the board. The board members are afraid of the parents. The parents are afraid of the children. And the children are afraid of nobody
How do adults honor their parents?
How do adults honor their parents?
We grow up and get married, and start our own family. How then, as marrieds, do we honor our parents?
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
By material, financial, mental, emotional support, and so on.
Church support for the true widows ought to be a last resort. Welfare is first of all a family responsibility.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 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.
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Submission (Normative Perspective)
But as a child grows older, especially when he leaves his parents’ home and starts a family of his own, Scripture applies the fifth commandment to him, not in terms of obedience, but rather in terms of respect/reverence and financial support. Yet in a larger sense he still is bound to be submissive, by faithfully listening to their wisdom.
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Financial Support (Situational Perspective)
When parents grow old and children achieve maturity, honor becomes less a matter of obedience and more a matter of respectful support. This is a “return,” as Paul says, a matter of simple justice. When we were unable to do anything for ourselves, our parents met all our needs. Later in life, there is often a reversal of roles. Children and grandchildren must then be prepared to do for their parents what the parents can no longer do for themselves
Even while He was dying, Jesus honored His mother by seeing that she was cared for.
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Establishing one’s parents in the order of the saved is the most precious and fundamental filial duty. Evangelizing our parents and repaying them with eternal life is the greatest fulfillment of filial duty on this earth.
The Sermon Notebook: Old Testament Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother (Exodus 20:12)
A mother that had scrimped and saved to put her son through college sat in her son’s graduation. She watched as he walked across the platform and received his degree with honors. As he walked down the isle, instead of turning into the designated row, he kept walking; down to where his mother sat. The young man threw his arms around her neck, kissed her on the cheek, and as he placed his diploma in her hands, he said, “Here, Mother, you earned it!” The fifth commandment addresses that which many parents have earned.
The 5th commandment in the workplace
The 5th commandment in the workplace
Since creation, human beings were made to work. There should be a hierarchical order between the one who gives work, and the one who carries out the work. The employer has a goal and a time limit in mind when he assigns work to the employee. But if the employee is lazy, he is basically stealing the employer’s wealth and time. Such an employee will be judged as a wicked servant (Matt. 24:48-51).
Christians should strive for sincerity of heart in their work ethic.
22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
The 5th commandment in the nation
The 5th commandment in the nation
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Even Jesus paid taxes to Caesar.
21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
The 5th commandment in the church
The 5th commandment in the church
In the Bible, those who nurture the faith of others are often called “father.”
14 Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”
12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
The Apostle Paul was a spiritual father to many, including Timothy, Titus, and Onesimus.
15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
The same case between the Apostle Peter and Mark.
13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.
And the same with the Apostle John and his congregation
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Those who are taught the Word of God should honor the teacher.
By sharing good things.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
By esteeming them.
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
By humble obedience and submission.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Definition of “father” and “mother”
Definition of “father” and “mother”
WLC Q 124: Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment?
By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in age and gifts; and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth.
Is this semantic stretch justified by Scripture?
Scripture uses father and mother for a wide number of relationships beyond the literal family
Rulers (Gen. 45:8; Judg. 5:7; Is. 49:23).
Military chiefs (2 Kgs 5:13).
Prophets (2 Kgs 2:12).
Wisdom teachers (Ps. 34:11; Prov. 1:8, 10, 15).
Church leaders (1 Cor. 4:15; Gal. 4:19; 1 Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4).
Older people (Lev. 19:32; 1 Tim. 5:1).
God could invoke the 1st commandment in Malachi 1:6, but He invokes the 5th commandment instead.
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’
The metaphorical use of “father” and “mother” is therefore justified in its reach into many spheres of society and authority structures.
17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Superiors Should Honor Inferiors
But the principle of the fifth commandment applies to all authority structures. We are to honor all authorities, giving them respect, submission, and financial support as appropriate
Everyone’s first relationship in life is with their parents.
The father is one who disciplines his children with love (Gen. 37:10; 44:20; 50:16-17; Heb. 12:5-8).
Parents perform in the home all the functions of society.
Teaching
Discipline
Employment
Spiritual leadership
The promise of longevity and prosperity
The promise of longevity and prosperity
The Detueronomic version includes not only longevity, but prosperity as well. Lifespan and healthspan.
Longevity without prosperity isn’t what you would call a blessing.
In Star Trek, they say, “Live long and prosper.”
16 “ ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
God gave them the fifth commandment so that they would know the way to enjoy prolonged lives in the covenantal land they were entering in.
The first commandment with a promise
2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
The Doctrine of the Christian Life The Promise of Prosperity
Why does God mention the promise here, rather than in another commandment? I think it has to do with the transition in the Decalogue from “our duty toward God” to “our duty toward man.”
As the commandment that bridges our duty toward God and our duty toward man, God shows us that the same blessing from the 2nd commandment is granted to us in our dutiful living toward man. The same blessing comes through honoring other people.
Furthermore, covenant prosperity depends on our submission, not only to God Himself, but also to His human representatives.
Does this reward mean that I will surely live a long life if I honor my parents?
Then can I honor my parents and live an unhealthy lifestyle and still expect longevity?
Redemptive-historical lesson in the 5th commandment
Redemptive-historical lesson in the 5th commandment
The Bible compares God’s love to a parent’s love. God is a father to His people (Deut. 32:6; Ps. 68:6; Is 9:6; Jer. 3:4, 19; Mal. 2:10).
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve did not respect God or obey His Word. As a result, they were expelled from the land that God had given them.
As the Son of God, Jesus showed filial piety by obeying the Father’s will. He called God “Father” 177 times.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”
On the other hand, the disciples were unfilial to Jesus, their spiritual father. They abandoned Him and forsook Him. But Jesus loved them with a father’s love and carried the cross for their salvation.
Through His substitutionary atoning work on the cross, we can now call God our “Father”.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
Misc.
Misc.
It is ever legitimate to put an aged relative in a nursing home? Does such a decision break the 5th commandment?
The Doctrine of the Christian Life Financial Support (Situational Perspective)
There are several principles that bear on this issue:
1. It is not wrong in itself for parents to live apart from their children. Indeed, the original ordinance of marriage in
The cultural movement toward dishonoring one’s parents is a sign of the end times
12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
Four capacities in which children need to grow
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Wisdom = Mental capacity
Stature = Physical capacity
Favor with men = Social capacity (social graces)
Favor with God = Spiritual capacity
The assumption is that you have God-fearing parents.
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
