5. Honouring Our Parents! Exodus 20:12

Text: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

Exodus 20:12.

Good morning, Parent-Honouring Christian!  IF our parents are seen to be honouring the Lord God Jehovah – then we are bound by God’s Fifth Commandment to give full honour and obedience to them.  

If our parents are indeed Bible-believing, Spiritually born again, Christians – then they should have fulfilled their duty under the Lord God to ‘...train us up in the way we should go...’, and instruct us continually throughout our childhood years from the written Word of God.  

If the Lord God, in His Sovereign grace, has seen fit to save us by the granting of His gift of faith to believe (trust) in the Atonement Sacrifice of His Son, Christ Jesus – then we too must bring our children up ‘...in the fear and admonition of the Lord’, to believe His Word and to walk in obedience to His Sovereign will.  This is the Word of God:

“Train up a child in the way he/she should go: and when he/she is old, he/she will not depart from it.”  (Proverbs 22:6)

“For by grace are ye saved by faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

“For He (God the Father) hath made Him (God the Son) sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we (Hell-deserving sinners) might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”        (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”  (Ephesians 6:4)

All these God-breathed (inspired) Scripture verses fit in close harmony together to prove without doubt the veracity (truth) of God’s inspired Commandments to us, ‘His people’.  We are taught by godly parents from God’s Word; God’s Word brings us faith to believe and receive Christ by the hearing of it; we receive God’s gift of faith and, by His grace alone, are gloriously redeemed by Christ’s Atonement Sacrifice on the Cross.  Hallelujah!  What Divine logic!  The Fifth Commandment contains God’s promise of life in the keeping of it!

“My son, forget not My law; but let thine heart keep my Commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.”  (Proverbs 3:1-2)

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)

Inspired Scripture is the best interpreter of other inspired Scripture: God’s Word is truth!

Read what Charles Haddon Spurgeon teaches in ‘Spurgeon’s Catechism’:

52 Q Which is the fifth commandment?

A The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

53 Q What is required in the fifth commandment?

A The fifth commandment requires the preserving the honour, and performing the duties belonging to everyone in their various positions and relationships as superiors, inferiors, or equals . (Ephesians  5:21-22; Ephesians 6:1-5; Romans 13:1), (Ephesians 6:9), (Romans 12:10).

54 Q What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?  A The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity -- as far as it shall serve for God's glory, and their own good -- to all such as keep this commandment 

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honour thy father and thy mother; which is the first Commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

The Westminster Confession of Faith Shorter Catechism (1646-1648) states: 

“Q. 63. Which is the fifth commandment?  A. The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment?  A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.

Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to everyone in their several places and relations.

Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?  A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.

That all things might be done decently and in order within families; governments; societies, etc. the Lord’s Fifth Commandment was graciously given."

Today, in this 21^st Century, we see the chaotic result of mankind’s not keeping this vital Commandment of God – as it seems like ‘every man is doing what is right in his own eyes...’, and rebellion and chaos wreaks havoc throughout the entire world.  God’s wisdom in giving us the Fifth Commandment was to ensure that order would be maintained.  We break this Commandment at our Eternal and temporal peril.  Let’s begin to teach our children this truth anew?

Thought: Honour thy Parents – world order and peace begins within orderly homes.