02(Exodus 20,12) For the Sake of Honor

I.    PRINCIPLE of the Command

A.    What is honor?

1.     Honor means ‘heavy’. To honor something/someone is to give weight to them.

2.     To dishonor is to treat something/someone ‘lightly’.

B.    How do we show honor?

1.     By respecting our parents – inwardly.

Lev 19:3 `Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father…

2.     By respecting our parents – outwardly.

        Making eye contact. Not smarting off.

3.     By obedience.

        Prov. 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;

4.     By caring for them later in life. Thus it is a lifelong command.

C.    About respecting ALL authority.

1.     We are told to honor all those in authority.

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Col 3:22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Heb 13:17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

2.     This begins in the home. I would say that if you fail to teach your children to honor and respect you in the home, they will not do so to other authorities outside the home.

3.     Can we not see the rebellion (against government, employers, pastors) has warped our society and destroyed it?

II.  REASONS for the Command

A.    It is God’s command, not Bob’s command.

Illus: daughter calls boys to supper, no response. Goes back and calls “Mom said…” they respond. Gave command as agent of the mother.

B.    Because it is well pleasing to the Lord.

Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

C.    What about abuse?

1.     OK, what about abuse? Abuse is not God’s will, he opposes it. He even opposes exasperating your children (Ephesians 6).

2.     But, do you ignore all traffic laws now because you got an unfair ticket once? Do we throw out the legal system because we know of someone who was unfairly sentenced?

3.     Then why are you so quick to throw out the standard of God’s command because of exceptions?

III. TEACHING of the Command

A.    How to teach them NOT to obey.

1.     By being a threatening / repeating parent.

2.     By being a bribing parent.

3.     By using emotionalism.

4.     By misusing compassion. “I am trying to be a compassionate parent.” But remember, it is only justice that qualifies and gives meaning to compassion.

B.    How do we teach this command?

1.     The heart determines behavior.

Prov 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

2.     All behavior is linked to some attitude of the heart. That means that even more than physical food, feed them spiritual food.

IV. PROMISE of the Command

A.    The first command with a promise.

1.     Paul repeats this in Ephesians.

Exodus 21:15,17 "And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. 17 "And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

2.     God takes this very seriously. It is well pleasing to Him.

B.    Promise extends to society.

Without fundamental respect among the family, the society is short-lived.

C.    What about the past? Where there was abuse in your life?

1.     You may not have had the example of a parent who deserved honor.

2.     Yet you can become that kind of parent.

3.     This command still applies. God doesn’t close His eyes to the abuse or your suffering.

Matt 18:6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

4.     God takes abuse very, very seriously too.

5.     You begin by forgiving them. Take the example Jesus gave. He was despised, beaten, cursed, spit upon. Yet He prayed “father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

D.    Become a parent who is worthy of honor.

1.     Not by browbeating, or intimidating, or shaming your children.

2.     But by commanding their respect by your life. Clean up your heart, it will clean up your mouth. And that will clean up your life.

3.     But it starts with the heart. Yes. Having your children obey the 5th command includes you obeying God’s command to cleanse your heart.