Honoring Parents
As Mother’s Day approaches, I am reminded that God commanded us to honor our mother and father. I looked this up in the Bible and found that this commandment is written six times throughout the Bible! The first time is in Exodus 20:12. This was one of the Ten Commandments, the Law given to Moses, written on stone tablets by the finger of God. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
The other places this verse / commandment are referenced are:
Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land your God is giving you.”
Matthew 15:4 “For God said ‘Honor your father and mother'”
Matthew 19:19 “‘honor your father and mother'”
Luke 18:20 “You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'”
Ephesians 6:2 “‘Honor your father and mother’ – which is the first commandment with a promise-“
It sure looks like honoring your parents is very important to God. I also noticed that in 1 and 2 Kings, the names of the king’s mothers are mentioned, as well as their hometowns.
One of the last thoughts Jesus had while hanging on the cross was for his mother, Mary. It was important for Him to make sure she would be cared for after His death – so He asked John to take her in as his own mother.
Now, looking back at where this commandment first showed up, it is among the other commandments given as law – those laws that were given to Israel to prove that they couldn’t keep them. To prove that they needed a savior. So then is this law – this one commanding us to honor our parents – also impossible to keep??
Evidently, we need a savior for this too. I know for me, honoring BOTH parents has been a challenge. I wrote in another blog about honoring a dishonorable parent. I know that has been the true story for so many of us – and maybe even for our own children – because we are all human. We have all been dishonorable at one time or another in our lives.
This commandment doesn’t qualify the action to honor based on whether the subject of our honor is deserving. I guess that’s why it had to be a commandment. We are commanded to honor – whether they deserve it or not. And the result has nothing to do with the parent! As Paul pointed out in Ephesians, this is the first commandment with a promise!
I wonder if this is related to us honoring our Father God? I wonder if this promise is eternal? I wonder if the promise to “live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” has something to do with our eternal life in heaven? I wonder if this has anything to do with us honoring our Father God? Being grateful for His love and forgiveness toward us? Being mindful of His presence in our lives and giving Him the glory for all of our successes and blessings??
Let us strive to honor our earthly parents, sometimes because we love and adore them. Sometimes just because God said so. And let us strive to honor our Father God. In the things we do. The things we say. Things we don’t do or say. Let’s make them proud to call us son; to call us daughter.
Father God, You are an awesome Father! You created us, cell by cell. Your Word, in Psalm 139, says that You knit us together in our mother’s womb! You know our every thought, our every action – even if another soul knows nothing of it!
God help us to walk in love toward our fathers and our mothers today. Help us to honor them, even when we don’t feel they deserve it. Help us to be more honorable, so that we can lead our own children to honor us – so they can take part in the promise too!
Thank You, Father, for giving us the wisdom and courage to do as You say. We ask all of these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen! So be it!
rs referenced this verse in Exodus to make points to their readers.