May 09, 2023 – Tuesday
Exodus 20:12 NIV
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV
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 the Lord your God is giving you.
Comments
This is the fifth of the ten commandments, and it has to do with children honoring both their father and their mother. To honor one’s parents includes valuing or treasuring them, taking care of them in their old age, and showing real respect to them. The command is given not only to children, but also for adult offspring. Cole wrote, This is not a popular doctrine in our modern world, where youth is worshipped, and old age dreaded or despised. The result is the folly by which men or women strive to remain eternally youthful, only to find it an impossible task.
It is the first command to come with a promise, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you or as in Deuteronomy, 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 the Lord your God is giving you. Paul repeated this second version in Galatians 6:2-3, 2 Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Notice, how Paul presents it, so it applies to anyone anywhere on the earth and not only in the land the Lord gave to Israel.
We should note the mother is given equal status with the father in this command. In a time when women had few if any rights God commands the mother to be honored just as the father is to be honored. No distinction is made.
Jesus in rebuking the Pharisees, included a reference found in both Exodus 21:17 and Leviticus 20:9 when He said in Matthew 14:4-7, 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
It is important for us to find a way to honor our fathers and our mothers for without them we would not be here no matter how imperfect they were as parents.
Bottom Line: Letting our children see us honoring our fathers and our mothers is important as it shows them what they too are to do. Setting the example is important. Do as I do in this case, not Do as I say.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to always find a way to honor my parents even now as they are gone. Help me to gain from their experience and to always endeavor to do better. Let me gain wisdom from my experience while honoring their memory. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek