The Fifth Commandment: "HONORING OTHERS"

Exodus 20:12 KJV 1900

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Theme:

The Fifth Commandment doesn't simply teach us to honor our parents—it exposes our craving to be honored ourselves. Jesus honored His Father perfectly so we can finally be free to honor others.

Main Thought Today:

"The more secure you are in Christ, the less attention you need from everyone else."

INTRODUCTION:

We all enjoy being appreciated.

We like hearing... "Good job." "Thank you." "I couldn't have done it without you."

But have you ever noticed...

how quickly we become discouraged when nobody notices?

When nobody says thank you...

When somebody else gets the credit...

When our sacrifice goes unseen...

This reveals something.

Maybe...

we don't just enjoy honor.

Maybe...

we depend on it.

And that is exactly what the Fifth Commandment unmasks.

The command isn't simply about honoring parents.

It's about exposing hearts that constantly demand honor for themselves.

Exodus 20:12 KJV 1900

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

First, THE COMMAND REVEALS OUR SELFISH HEART

Exodus 20:12 KJV 1900

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

"Honour thy father and thy mother..."

This command sounds simple.

But honor is different and so much deeper than obedience.

At first glance, this command seems to be about parents. But when you study the Bible, you discover it is much bigger than that. God is teaching us a principle that extends to every relationship in our lives. Honor is not merely something we owe our father and mother, it is a posture of the heart toward others.

Honor means:

to value.

To esteem.

To put someone ahead of yourself.

And that's exactly where we struggle.

Because sin naturally bends us inward.

Philippians 2:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Paul says...

Honor starts with humility.

The opposite of honor isn't hatred.

It's self-centeredness.

Romans 12:10 KJV 1900

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Read It Again

"preferring one another."

Here's a definition of honor that has stayed with me all week.

"To honor someone means showing respect to every person, all the time, without exception, and without any reference to whether that person is respectable."

Pause.

Let that sink in for just a moment.

That means I honor the person who agrees with me...

and the person who doesn't.

I honor the person who thanks me...

and the one who never does.

I honor the person who has earned my respect...

and the one who hasn't.

Why?

Because my obedience isn't based on their behavior. It's based on God's command.

Then continue with:

1 Peter 2:17 KJV 1900

17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Notice Peter didn't say, "Honor only honorable people."

He simply said, "Honor all men."

That's what makes this command impossible apart from the grace of God.

That's not natural.

That's supernatural.

James 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Most church problems...

Most family arguments...

Most hurt feelings...

begin because somebody wasn't honored the way they thought they should have been.

Illustration: "Because Dad Said So"

Some of you remember growing up in the late 1960s. Dad didn't have to explain everything. He'd say, "Take out the trash."

And if you asked...

"Why?"

His answer was usually...

"Because I said so."

And somehow... that settled the discussion.

Today kids negotiate like they're attorneys.

"Well technically..." "No, Dad..." "I found this on Google..."

Back then Dad was your Google.

And if Mama called your full name...

you didn't ask questions.

You started praying.

(Let them laugh.)

But here's the point.

Even when we obeyed...

our hearts weren't always honoring.

God isn't just after outward obedience.

He's after inward humility.

"The more secure you are in Christ, the less attention you need from everyone else."

Second, OUR NEED FOR HONOR BECOMES OUR SLAVERY

Main Thought:

The real problem

isn't that people don't honor us.

The problem is...

we've convinced ourselves we can't live without it.

Proverbs 29:25 KJV 1900

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

When your happiness depends on people approving of you...

you're trapped.

We become like the Pharisees...

John 12:43 KJV 1900

43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Think about that.

They didn't simply appreciate compliments.

They loved them.

Needed them.

Lived for them.

Galatians 1:10 KJV 1900

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

You'll never satisfy both.

Either you'll chase applause...

or you'll follow Christ.

Illustration: The Family Station Wagon

Some of you remember those enormous station wagons.

The kind with wood paneling down the side.

The back seat faced backwards.

Kids today think that's child abuse.

(Laugh.)

We thought it was the greatest invention ever.

You could wave at every car behind you. You could make faces. You could play games.

But if Dad looked in that rearview mirror... the fun was over.

One look. That's all it took. You knew exactly what that look meant.

Why?

Because Dad didn't have to earn your attention.

He already had it.

Today we spend our lives looking in everyone else's rearview mirror...

wondering...

"What do they think about me?"

"Did they notice me?"

"Did they appreciate me?"

That's an exhausting way to live.

"The more secure you are in Christ, the less attention you need from everyone else."

Third, JESUS GIVES US THE HONOR WE COULD NEVER EARN

Jesus honored His Father...perfectly.

Where Adam failed...

Jesus succeeded.

Where Israel failed...

Jesus succeeded.

Where I, you, everyone fails...

Jesus succeeded.

John 8:29 KJV 1900

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Always.

Not sometimes.

Always.

Philippians 2:5–11 KJV 1900

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This passage deserves to be read almost in its entirety.

It is one of the greatest pictures of humility in all of Scripture.

"Let this mind be in you..."

"He humbled himself..."

"Became obedient unto death..."

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him..."

The One who deserved all honor...

laid it aside.

So those who deserved none...

could receive it.

Romans 15:1–3 KJV 1900

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Romans 15:1–3 KJV 1900

Then verse 3... 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

There's the Gospel.

Jesus didn't come to protect His rights.

He came to surrender them.

Hebrews 12:2 KJV 1900

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He endured shame...

so you could receive honor.

1 Peter 2:23 KJV 1900

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Jesus refused to demand respect.

Instead...

He gave grace.

Illustration: Andy Griffith

I loved watching The Andy Griffith.

Barney Fife always wanted everybody to know he was in charge.

He'd puff out his chest.

Straighten his badge.

Quote the rule book.

He wanted everybody to notice him.

Andy never had to do that.

He didn't need to remind people he was the sheriff.

Quiet strength doesn't need constant recognition.

Spiritually...

many of us live more like Barney than Andy.

We need everybody to know what we've done.

We want credit.

Recognition.

Appreciation.

But Jesus...

the King of Kings...

washed feet.

The greatest Person in history became the lowest servant.

That's honor.

Matthew 23:11–12 KJV 1900

11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Romans 8:32 KJV 1900

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

If God has already given you His Son...

what honor could this world possibly offer that's greater than that?

"The more secure you are in Christ, the less attention you need from everyone else."

Conclusion

The real freedom comes when we find our identity not in the praise of others,

but in the perfect honor that Jesus has already given us through His sacrifice.

When our hearts are secure in Christ, the need for external validation diminishes.

We no longer have to chase after recognition or approval because we are already

loved,

accepted, and

honored by God.

Before I open the alter, I want you to think about one thing, and answer two question:

Remember, honor isn't showing respect only when someone deserves it. Honor is showing respect to every person, all the time, without exception, and without any reference to whether that person is respectable.

So ask yourself these two question:

Has Christ shown you that kind of grace?

Then who is He calling you to honor this week?

EVERY HEAD BOWED , EVERY EYE CALLED

NO ONE LOOKING AROUND

THIS IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD

So today, I ask you:

Is there anyone here who needs prayer for areas where you struggle to honor others?

Is there a heart that longs for God’s grace to break the chains of pride, insecurity, or the craving for recognition?

If that’s you, I invite you to raise your hand now. I want to pray with you, pray for you, and ask God to strengthen your heart.

And for those who feel led, the altar is open.

Come and pray

bring your burdens,

ask for grace, and

commit anew to reflect Christ’s humility and grace in your life.

Remember, true honor begins with surrendering our need for recognition

and resting... fully… in… Christ!

Let CHRIST work in your heart today.

FINAL PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

We thank You that Jesus Christ is our ultimate example of humility and honor.

We confess that so often we seek validation from others instead of finding our worth in You.

We ask for Your forgiveness for the times we have demanded honor for ourselves, instead of giving grace to others.

Lord, HELP US surrender

our pride,

our insecurities, and

our need for recognition.

FILL US with Your Spirit

help us to honor others,

not because we feel like it,

but because of the love and humility You have shown and are showing us.

STRENGTHEN US to live out the Fifth Commandment,

NOT just in words BUT in heart

May our lives reflect the humility of Christ, and may we find our identity fully secure in Your grace.

We ask this in Jesus’ mighty name, trusting that You will work in each of us to become more like YOU.

Amen.