The Commandment With A Promise
Of all the commandments in the Bible, one stands out because of a promise that is attached to it. It is the fifth commandment of the Ten Commandments and it reads: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Ex. 20.12) In other words, a long, blessed life is not dependent on the vitamins you take or the exercise program you are on, but rather the attitude and actions taken in regard to your parents. With the growing legitimacy of euthanasia and the abandoning of the elderly by their families, this commandment must be reviewed and taken seriously by all of us. Remember, to honor one’s parents is a commandment, not a suggestion.
Honor begets honor and God will honor with long life those who honor their parents. If we desire to please God and be blessed, we must pay close attention to this commandment. As adults, we may not be directly under the authority of our parents, but that does not mean we have outgrown this commandment. Even Jesus submitted Himself to both His earthly parents as to His Heavenly Father. Honoring parents pleases the Lord, because it shows that we recognize God as Father and family as His plan for all of mankind. As we honor our parents we are understanding that life did not begin with us, but was giving to us from God through our parents. By honoring your parents you are honoring God.
Paul said to the Ephesian Church that there was a mystery hidden in God from the beginning of the ages. What was this mystery? In Ephesians 3.14-15, it says: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” God reveals Himself as Father and all fatherhood derives from Him. Jesus came to be the Way to the Father. No one knew God as Father before Jesus came to earth and His mission was to reveal His Father to all of mankind. Jesus revealed this mystery that God is Father to the Church and the Church is to manifest fatherhood to the world and to all spiritual principalities.
In a day in which the breakdown of families is more common than not, it becomes very important that the Church understand her role in modelling to the world godly, family life. Family is the basic cell of the Body of Christ and yet is not understood without the revelation of fatherhood. The Greek word for family is patria and the word for father is pater. Family derives its definition from father. Fatherless families are dysfunctional and are in the same category as orphans and widows. The Church is a family and is to take in and care for the fatherless. This is true religion; to give a reference of father to the fatherless.
Honoring of parents strengthens one’s identity and creates a continuum for future generations. God revealed His name to Moses in this way: “The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial to all generations.” (Ex. 3.15) God revealed His identity in a generational way. Bless your parents. Praise and honor them. Give a heritage of family to your children that span generations. Because God is Father of all families, He can redeem and heal all dysfunctional families. As you bless, you will be blessed, and as you honor, you will be honored.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Ex. 20.12; Eph. 6.2; Col. 3.20; Matt. 19.19; Jer. 35.18-19; Prov. 20.20; 23.22