'How To' Instructions in Righteousness - printer friendly version

Lesson 3: Honor your mother and father

Key verse:  Deut 5:16
Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Related Verses:

Lev 19:3
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Note: have the profoundest reverence and respect for them.

Matt 15:4-6
For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

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

Matt 19:19
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Prov 23:22
Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

The key word here is "Honor".  Notice the dictionary definitions:

Regular Dictionary:

High respect
The dignity accorded to position

Great respect or high public esteem accorded as a right or as due: deference, homage, obeisance.
A feeling of deference, approval, and liking: account, admiration, appreciation, consideration, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect.
A person's high standing among others: dignity, good name, good report, prestige, reputation, repute, respect, status.
Recognition of achievement or superiority or a sign of this: accolade, distinction, kudos, laurel (often used in plural).

Bible Dictionary:

HONOR
Esteem and respect. To honor God is to give Him reverence and homage, for God alone is worthy of our highest honor (1 Chron 16:27; Rev 4:9-11). Second in honor would come the Son of God. Jesus makes it plain that one cannot honor the Father unless he also honors the Son (John 5:23). Esteem, honor, and respect should also be given to our spiritual leaders in the church (1 Tim 5:17; Heb 13:7, KJV).

The fifth of the Ten Commandments states, "Honor your father and your mother" (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16). Jesus taught that to honor parents means to help them financially (Matt 15:4-6).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

HONOR
The rendering of several Heb. and Gk. words, meaning: (1) respect paid to superiors, such as to God (John 5:23; Rev 5:12); to parents and kings, including submission and service (Ex 20:12; Matt 15:4; 1 Peter 2:17); the esteem due to virtue, wisdom, glory, reputation, and probity (Prov 15:33; 22:4; 29:23); (2) the reward, emolument, position given to subjects (Num 22:17,37; 2 Chron 1:11-12) and the final reward of righteousness (John 5:44, marg.; Rom 2:7; Heb 2:7; 2 Peter 1:17).
(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary)

Notice how in Leviticus 19:3 God puts honor of parents on par with remembering and keeping the Sabbath which is covered in the previous topic of instruction.

Connection
A goodly part of honoring our parents is to do all we can to maintain family connection.  This means communication and interaction.  Children are to maintain close connection to their parents.  Children are to know their grandparents and even great grandparent, if alive.  It has always been God's plan and purpose that greater and extended families remain close and support and honor one another.  The strength of any nation is in the family.  Notice the promise that comes with this commandment: "that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."  This is a promise to both the individual and to the nation.  When the family goes and begins to disband and fall apart, so goes the nation.

Position vs. Character
There will be situations among the brethren where their parents were/are abusive, neglectful, hateful and/or in conflict with us regarding our faith or God specifically.  Regardless, as with the example of David toward King Saul, despite the fact Saul sought David's death, David continued to respect the position of king.  So, despite our relationship with our parents, we are to honor their position and to love our parents, even if they are our enemies.  We are to do good unto them.

Instructions – Honor Your Mother and Father

1) Understand what "Honor" means.
2) Honor your parents as you do God.  Parents are the living metaphor of God.
3) Maintain and encourage family connection.
4) Honor your parent with your substance [financial support].
5) Offer your parents kindness, respect and obedience.
6) Support them when they fall weak, blind or sick.

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