“HONOR YOUR PARENTS”
AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #26
Honor Your Parents
“For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.” (Matthew 15:4).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
First, this is of the “Ten Commandments” found in Exodus 20:2-17 and in Deuteronomy 5:6-21 and it says,
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 5:16
The second half of this verse is found in Exodus 21:17, ” And he that curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”.
The greater context of this Teaching is about …
“The Traditions of Men versus The Commandments of God”.
This Teaching begins in Matthew 15:1 “Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, v2 “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
v3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
v4 “For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.’
v5 ” But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’
v6 In this way, you say they don’t need to honor their parents
v7 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
v8 ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
v9 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
For the disciple of Jesus, there is both a promise and a warning.
1. “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.”
The word “Honor” is a word heavy with the idea of honoring, respecting, promoting, giving glory to, and is grave in its demands.
It is and imperative command and is in the imperfect tense which means it is incomplete which requires and ongoing action by the doer.
2. “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.”
This is a conditional promise. Again, it requires an ongoing action, but it brings the promise of a prolonged life which is good and pleasing, a healthy life accompanied with gladness, joy and wellness.
A mark of a True Disciple of Jesus is one who Honors their Father and Mother.
Now, it is your turn:
HOW MUST YOU DO IT?
HOW YOU MUST TEACH IT?
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
(PS: I will admit honoring my mother and father was not easy for me in my earlier life. But, as God gave me the grace to forgive and honor my parents a great burden was lifted from my life. The peace of God began to settle over me. I began to find the good and pleasing things in life. I began to experience a new and healthier life accompanied with gladness, joy and wellness. It’s worth the effort!)