God Honors Mothers

MOTHER’S DAY EXHORTATION

Leviticus 19:3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

1. GOD HONORS MOTHERS

In most places, when God speaks relating to parents in the Bible, we usually hear about the father first. However, God speaking to the Jews, giving the laws to Moses (Leviticus is a book of laws), here says:

Leviticus 19:1-3

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.

3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

So often when we read similar texts, the father is named first. But, in this case perhaps the Lord placed the mother first to show her importance to the family unit. Clearly, from this passage, in putting the mother first, the Lord shows that mothers are important too.

God is speaking to the Israelites—His people, telling them:

1. Be holy

2. Fear your mother (and father)

3. Keep my Sabbaths (holy days)

Notice that “Fear your mother …” is sandwiched between “holiness” and “keeping Sabbaths.” What does this mean? This suggests that God takes respect for your mother (parents) seriously and it is related to practical religion. How so, you may ask? Because our parents are our first earthly image of God. Therefore, both parents and children have responsibility to submit to God’s ordained plan.

Notice too that in the Ten Commandments, honoring your parents is listed fifth in order immediately after the commands relating to God. What does this tell us? If nothing else, it tells us that if we are going to worship God, we need to honor our first earthly authority. God takes parents seriously, and since today is Mother’s Day, we’re going to focus on mothers.

As a matter of fact caring for family members is connected to the New Testament:

1 Timothy 5:8

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

In this case, the concern was for widows (often aged mothers). Caring for family members is considered of such importance, that God equates one who fails to do so as one who is not of the faith (not Christian). Why is that? Could it be because taking care of your parents has something to do with how you respond to someone who has loved you throughout your life? Could it be that it has something to do with what is right?

Let’s talk more about mothers this morning...

Sometimes I hear people say (as I have said in my life):

“My mom is mean”

“My mom is always nagging me”

“My mom is fat”

“My mom doesn’t care about me”

“I hate my mother!”

But I have some questions:

1. Who carried you in her womb for 9 months?

2. Who endured pregnancy for you?

3. Who labored with you (Genesis 3:16)

4. Who fed you from her breast when you were a baby?

5. Who prepared milk and changed your diapers?

6. Who carried you and sang to you to put you to sleep?

7. Who took you to the hospital when you were sick?

8. Who gave you medicine?

9. Who woke up late at night to take care of you?

10. Who wiped your nose and cooked your food?

11. Who did you call when you were scared?

12. Who protected you?

“MOMMA!!” (Maybe for some, it’s “Auntie” or “Grandma”)

If your mom doesn’t care about you, why did she do those things?

Mothers are nurses, doctors, drivers, counselors, teachers, friends, and even “pillows”

In fact, the love and care of a mother is so strong, that the Lord even illustrates His love to a mother’s:

Isaiah 66:13

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

2. Mothers, you have a GREAT RESPONSIBILITY to be good mothers:

MOMS, you can give your children either a GOOD impression of God or a BAD one.

So often the focus is on the 'fathers':

Exodus 20:12

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

But very often fathers come into play later in life for children. But it is mothers who are on the front line of infancy and early childhood, when fathers are often absent—as in the case of Eunice and Timothy. Therefore, the mother is to step in and do what is best for her child:

2 Timothy 3:15

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.