Honour Thy Father And Mother

Our passage commands all children not just to “obey” their parents “in the Lord” (v. 1), but to also “honour” them! That means to respect and hold their parents in high regard. Sadly, we live in perilous times when many children are “disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Tim 3:2). Some kids may say that their parents are not worthy of their honor because they are ashamed of what they have done. However, the best thing the children can do is to honor their parents (Prov 23:22); and God will bless them!

Children undergo several stages in their relationship to their parents. During their formative years, they look to them as their perfect guide. Then they realize that they are not that perfect. They figure out that they are still dependents and they need them to meet their needs. As kids mature, they recognize that their parents are just like them; who are sinners (Rom 3:23), and makes mistakes. At some point, children need to forgive their parents for their failures (Prov 24:16). They need to stop blaming their behavior on the shortcomings that their parents have made in the past! God gave the precious “promise” that if children will honor their parents (Ex 20:12), they may “live long on the earth” (v. 3).

But we must also understand that this is not an ironclad guarantee. In general, blessings always follow (Deut 28:2), when we obey! For example, if your parents tell you not to touch drugs and alcohol, then you may have a longer life if you obey. There are situations where children have honored and obeyed their parents but died at an early age. Our Lord Jesus perfectly obeyed His parents, yet He died on the cross about 3 years after He began His earthly ministry (Lk 3:23). Obedience is not merely following a set of rules; it’s about trusting God and showing our love for Him (Prov 3:5). Always be thankful if you have godly parents that are trying to lead you in the right path! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera