Honor Your Father And Your Mother Series

Honor Your Father and Your Mother

Exodus 20:12

Introduction

A mother that had scrimped and saved to put her son through college sat in her son’s graduation. She watched as he walked across the platform and received his degree with honors. As he walked down the isle, instead of turning into the designed row, he kept walking; down to where his mother sat. The young man threw his arms around her neck, kissed her on the cheek, and as he placed his diploma in her hands, he said, “Here you go Mom, you earned it!” The fifth commandment addresses that which many parents have earned.

Let’s face it; there aren’t that many children who hold their parents in that high regard. Too often, good old mom and dad are seen as obstacles to be overcome rather than wise guides to be followed and emulated. In this fifth Commandment, God lays down a principle for life that will determine how every relationship around you will turn out. You see, the home is the foundational structure that makes them up. As goes the home, so goes the nation, the community, the church, and so on. In the home, God has established an order that is to be strictly followed. The husband (father) is to be the head of that home, submitting himself to the will of the heavenly Father. The wife (mom) is to be in subjection to her husband, not as his doormat or servant, but as his helpmate. The children are to submit themselves to their parents, and in doing so, will be blessed of the Lord. Kids and youth, did you catch that. You will be blessed of the Lord, when you do that, not necessarily your parents. If this order is followed then the home will be blessed and will be a blessing to all those involved in it.

Yet, many homes are in shambles today because the children have forgotten all about the Fifth Commandment. It is fitting that this Commandment should fall here. It divides the commandments related to God from those related to our fellow man. You see, when we are out of step in the home, we will be out of step with God and with our fellow man. It is in the parental relationship that we learn first how to submit to the Lord and then how we re to serve our fellow man.

As we take a few minutes this morning to look into this verse and all that it teaches, we will find that there is instruction here for both parents and for children. Let’s talk today about “Honoring Your Father and Your Mother.”

Please read Exodus 20:12 with me.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”

As we go into our text this morning I want you to see three particular things that I believe will help us do a better job of keeping this commandment today.

I. There is a Respect that is Demanded

a. An Elevation to Recognize

• This verse makes it plain that parents are to be held in high regard by their children.

• Notice what Ephesians 6:1-3 says, “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.”

• Honor, means to give great weight to, or to hold as valuable.

• Children are to hold Mom and Dad in high respect.

• They are not just two old fools out to ruin your fun.

• They have been placed in your life by the sovereign will of the Almighty God to be your overseers until you reach maturity.

• In the early stages of life, while a child is maturing from birth to adulthood, they are to be in absolute subjection to their parents.

• Children are to offer unquestioning obedience to their parents!

• When a child refuses to obey his or her parents, they are in effect refusing to submit to the Lord.

• There were times in my youth when I disobeyed my parents and I was wrong for doing so.

• I wish I could go back now with what I know.

• I would try to be a model son.

• But, I can’t go back!

• You young people who are still living under your parent’s roof might want to reconsider just how you are treating them!

• If you aren’t holding them in high regard and respect, then you need to repent of that sin and do right by your parents.

• It is discouraging, and frightening to see a child or young person being disrespectful to their parents.