Honor your mother and father


Honoring your father and mother is being respectful in word and action and having an inward attitude of esteem for their position. The Greek word for honor means “to revere, prize, and value.” Honor is giving respect not only for merit but also for rank. Children regardless of age should honor their parents, even if  their parents do not “deserve” honor.

God tells us (commands us) to honor father and mother. It is so important, it is one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12) and again in the New Testament: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

Honoring parents is the only command in Scripture that promises us long life as a reward.

Jesus, who is God the Son, submitted Himself to both His earthly parents (Luke 2:51) and His heavenly Father (Matthew 26:39). Following Christ’s example, we should treat our parents the way we would God as our Father.

Honor your parents in actions and attitudes (Mark 7:6). Honor their unspoken as well as spoken wishes. “A wise son (or daughter) heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1). In Matthew 15:3-9, Jesus reminded the Pharisees of the command of God to honor their father and mother. They were obeying the letter of the law, but they had added their own traditions that essentially overruled it. While they honored their parents in word, their actions proved their real motive. Honor is more than lip service. The word “honor” in this passage is a verb and, as such, demands action.

We should honor our parents in the way that we desire to bring glory to God—in our thoughts, words, and actions.

If a parent ever instructs a child to do something that clearly contradicts God’s commands, that child must obey God rather than his/her parents (Acts 5:28).

God will not honor those who will not obey His command to honor their parents. If we desire to please God and be blessed, we should honor our parents. Honoring is not easy, is not always fun, and certainly is not possible in our own strength. But honor is a certain path to our purpose in life—glorifying God.

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).

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