Series: Living God’s Way
Title: Honour Your Father and Mother
Key Text: Deuteronomy 5:16
The fifth commandment is an unambiguous order about how we should treat our parents. To honour someone means to regard them with great respect. Honouring is in the very nature of God, and we see that in the family-like structure of the Trinity, with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, we have the great example of Jesus who whole-heartedly obeyed and did the will of His father, and did only what He saw his father do (John 6:38). Jesus also honoured Mary and Joseph, His parents on earth (Luke 2:51). At the end of His life, He committed his whole life and His spirit into the hands of His father God. Jesus, powerful as He was, always had this submissive, gentle, and humble attitude. The apostle Paul also teaches in the New Testament about the importance of honouring the spiritual authority over our lives (1 Corinthians 4:15).
In our world today, this is certainly a controversial topic, but this law has been contested and struggled with by every generation since the birth of mankind. We as Christians need to ensure that we continue to maintain God's order by obeying His commandments.
Honouring Is God’s Design (Matthew 19:17-19; Matthew 15:4)
Honouring Bring Blessing To Your Life (Ruth 1:16)
Honouring Blesses Generations Of Families (1 Timothy 3:4-5; Malachi 4:5-6)
Apply
1) Honouring Is God’s Design
Honouring your mother and father is not a human idea or optional opinion. It is the will of God for every son and daughter to respect and honour their parents. Our parents are the people who gave us life: without them, we would not be here. In some cultures, there is a high value placed on respecting one’s parents and elders. But in many cultures, this principle is treated like a tradition that is no longer relevant. In society today, we see many children unashamedly defying their parents, showing no respect, and rebelling against them. This command applies to young children but also to adults. As Christians, it is in our Christian culture to love and honour our parents and we should not neglect this command. It is the heart of God to restore families where there is disunity. Jesus said: “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments… Honour your father and mother and love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 19:17-19; Matthew 15:4). We can honour our parents by: telling them we love them showing appreciation for the sacrifices many parents have made; speak well of your parents; doing a chore for them; showing love to your siblings; and by being teachable and humble and ask them for their opinion or advice. As we get older, the relationship between parents and children changes and at a later stage, children have the privilege of supporting and taking care of their parents in their old age. Honouring keeps families together and connected.
2) Honouring Brings Blessing To Your Life
This is the first commandment that comes with a promise: “...so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” The prior 4 commandments are just commands. This one contains an amazing promise of prosperity and longevity! Through the principle of honouring, God pours out favour, blessing and wisdom. But this is difficult to do if someone has had a traumatic or upset childhood. It is a choice to decide to live God’s way, despite our feelings or experiences. Honouring our parents is not conditional. We don’t always have to like or agree with what our parents do, but honouring is a spiritual state of trusting God for the authority He has placed in your life. This means that we really love and obey God, and this is shown in our respect for our parents. The opposite is dishonouring, when we disrespect our parents, don’t acknowledge them as the ascendants God has put in our lives and when we choose to disobey . Of course, no child should ever be coerced or made victim to wrong things like abuse or neglect: children should be protected. But what we are talking about today is an attitude of the heart. We see this promise come true in the life of Ruth, who chose to follow and honour her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:16). There are many biblical examples to show how God always honours those who honour.
3) Honouring Blesses Generations Of Families
This commandment not only teaches us to honour our parents as children; it also suggests that a mother and father are honourable. This command sets the standard for children, and it also calls each one of us to a higher level of righteousness to live a respectable life. This is a great challenge for us as parents. In everything we do, we are modelling how to live. We set an example to our children, which becomes a culture and a legacy that is passed on. In the Bible we see how blessings and curses continue through generations. One generation that honours their parents and obeys God’s commands grows up and teaches their children the same values (1 Timothy 3:4-5). We cannot force honour; we are all called to act “in a manner worthy of full respect.” And this is the starting point to build leaders for the kingdom of God, families set apart for the Lord and generations that walk in His purposes. It all starts in the home family (Malachi 4:5-6). This teaching, when applied, can bring great revival, and can bring a great move of God. There is such a breakdown of society but when generations start to come together, when fathers love their children and the hearts of the fathers, which may be very hard, turn back to the children and the children to the fathers and mothers, then we can really see great restoration. Today let’s examine our hearts, seeing where we need to change and where we need to show more honour.
