Honor Your Father and Mother

Introduction

The command to honor father and mother is one of great importance.

It is given great prominence.

But how does it apply as we grow older and how do parents react as their children grow into adults with families of their own?

The Importance of Honor

It is the command in the ten commandments that seems to straddle the commands that focus on God and the ones that focus on man (Ex. 20:12).

Paul highlights that it is the first command with promise (Eph. 6:2-3).

Notice that full promise in the original command (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16).

Consider the punishment for failing to honor (Ex. 21:15, 17; Lev. 20:9; Deut. 21:18-21).

The Application of Honor

The meaning of honor is to give weight to something.

The instruction to obey is absent from the two places where the command is given in the old testament (Ex. 20:12; Deut. 5:16; Eph. 6:1-3).

The command to obey seems to be aimed at children (Eph. 6:1).

Jesus makes a different application of honor (Mk. 7:9-13).

Jesus illustrates both ends this application (Lk. 2:51; Jn 19:26-27).

Cultivating Honor

There is a burden on parents to make honor and respect easy (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21).

Parents should raise children who know how to and want to care for their parents (1 Tim. 5:4).

Parents need to leave room for their children to build their own lives (Gen. 2:24).

Conclusion

Honor to father and mother is the foundation of our society.

More importantly, it is the foundation of our relationship with God.

What sort of foundation are you building?