Sermon Tone Analysis

As we celebrate Mother’s Day today, I want us to consider a passage of scripture well known to us.

A passage many of us had to memorize as children possibly, and for good reason!

Yet, I believe it is a passage forgotten, or that holds less importance as we grow older in the church.

The concept I want us to look at and consider is HONOR.

The passage I want us to turn to as we consider God’s perspective on mothers and honor is in Ephesians 6:1-3

Is it Obey or Honor?

The context of this passage is that of family...

Husbands love you wife

Wive’s Respect you husband

Children obey parents

Slaves obey and respect your earthly masters

Each of these are to be done “as to the Lord!”

The ideal concept here is a Christian home, the husband submits to God as he leads his home in love, the christian wife responds with respect to her husband, the children being raised in a Godly manner are obeying and honoring their parents, and the slaves in this household, who are Christians as well, obey and respect their master as if serving Christ Himself!

However, life is not always ideal… these verses do not give an escape clause to not do what God is commanding if you are not in a “Christian Home”.

Paul is restating a command from God back from the Old Testament still relevant and necessary Deuteronomy 5:16

For the sake of Mother’s Day we will focus our attention on our responsibility of the child and the role of the mother.

Each one here today is a child...

We understand the need for children to obey

The promise is a general proverb or rule that states a well known fact… obedience brings longer life as a rule

Obedience is clear at a young age isn't it… BUT as we age what does it look like?

Notice in both places this is stated… IT IS A COMMAND!

As we look at scriptures this is an adult audience that receives this… Deuteronomy 27:16

They agree! this is serious stuff… maybe they are thinking about their kids honoring them?

What about when it is your turn to care for them… ( NOT become the parent! ) Leviticus 19:32 Proverbs 23:22

There is a transition in this life from obedience to honor

Truth be told obedience is clearer and easier!

Honor should only increase as we ourselves age!

If God's command is true… THEN how does it look?

What is HONOR, how do we?

Honor Defined & Lived

Honor in the Hebrew means “to be heavy” so basically treat your parents with a TON of respect!

Interestingly in the Greek in the NT we see the word for honor timao “to set a price or value to”

In all the NT we see timao translated honor except one verse!

Matthew 27:9

The value set to Christ or honor by Judas Iscariot was 30 pieces of silver!

Considered what timao set value or honor given by Peter, John, Paul, the men and women in the arenas or burned at the stake?

A life lived to honor God because of the high value placed on Christ a heavy burden to follow

As our parents age, do we exhibit a high honor or value

Truth is that we live in a society that is quickly destroying the value of the aged, quickly destroying the role and position of motherhood

We reserve a status of “honor” for athletes, ones who are famous, powerful, rich

Honor may be given to one who achieves a great feat or does something out of the ordinary

But what about showing and giving honor to the one who listens to the call and responsibility of God day in and day out, a mother

I am not saying giving a card with sweet honoring words

I am talking about more than lip service / we give it lip service while we tear down the institution of motherhood methodically

This mindset is creeping into the church today faster than ever before

Jesus had something to say about this… Mark 7:6-13

Oh the danger of spiritualizing why we should not give care, and showing honor (spiritualizing dishonor or disobedience)

BUT PASTOR YOU DON'T KNOW MY MOTHER...

No I do not, but I do know what God’s Word says… Honor your father and mother.

We cannot look at the sin of a parent to justify our disobedience!

We ask: “How can I honor my father when he drinks, does drugs, has anger, he abusive, or absent?” “How can I honor my mother when she is self-absorbed, bitter, caught up in her career, or a constant gossip?”

The excuses and examples could go on....

Maybe the question should be asked: “How can I be aware of the wrong in his or her life and still find a way to honor them?”

Be that shining example of what God has commanded… show her the value she has through the eyes of God for the position and role He has given her and give a TON of respect for her!

God just may use you to work in her heart...

Showing honor to our mothers.

Typically we think of a soldier or something similar when we think Honor.

I came across an article written yesterday by Greg Stube a Green Beret...

This may be in sharp contrast to what popular culture expects from a career Green Beret, but over and over in my life I’ve found that love and compassion are the basis for just action – this includes all that our Special Forces are tasked to do.This means, first and foremost, our actions must be predicated on what our mothers taught us, or should have, by loving and protecting us....

I attribute so much of this to a maternal nature that compels us to love, support and to protect – to what mothers provide.

This is why I dedicated “Conquer Anything – A Green Beret’s Guide to Building Your A-Team" to mothers.

The beauty in a mother’s love is that her fight to safeguard her child is a justified one.

She won’t have to regret what she did, and she will certainly win the fight with whatever resources are available.

A mother will tend to make decisions less in favor of herself and more in favor of us....

We are better and we even fight better when we are strong enough to love in any environment, just as our mothers, when at their best, show us.

Honor Taught

Moms dads, the teaching of honor, obedience, respect begins when young… Proverbs 1:8 Proverbs 6:20 Proverbs 22:6

Moms do you realize how important you are in this?

There are two things going on here...

dads instruct, command

moms teach and teach and train

"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World" a poem by William Ross Wallace

Moms the next generation of those who define and understand honor is on you!

How will the children we raise, honor God who they cannot see, if we have not taught them to honor their parents who are there in front of them!?

In closing I want us to leave thinking on the words penned in Proverbs 31… Chapter 31 is written by King Lemuel and he is reflecting on and passing on for us words of wisdom his mother taught him… look how he closes this chapter as he remembers the type of woman Lemuel should look for and I have no doubt was demonstrated and taught by his own mother… Proverbs 31:25-31

Can I have all the women stand here today as I close in prayer I want to pray for you specifically.