Children,
obey your
parents
in the Lord
Ephesians 6:1-3
The contextual definition of Old
Testament honor (the Hebrew
word kabod) means heavy or
weighty. To honor someone, then,
is to give weight or grant a person
of position respect and even
authority in one’s life. In the
context of Exodus 20:12, it means
to prize highly, care for, show
respect for, and obey.
Honor your father and your
mother, that you may have a
long life in the land the LORD
your God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in
the Lord, for this is
right. 2 “Honor your father and
mother” which is the first
commandment with a
promise 3 “so that it may go well
with you and that you may enjoy
long life on the earth
Children
Paul is speaking to children old enough to
understand the command, because he
addresses them directly
They could have ranged from the very young to
perhaps even young adults still living at home.
As long as a child is single and dependent on
his/her parents for financial support, he is
obligated to obey them, unless they command
him to do something that would require
disobeying God.
The command to honor our parents is
lifelong.
Three reasons children
need to obey their
parents:
1.
It is an act of
obedience to the Lord.
Children, obey your parents in
the Lord, for this is right. v. 1
Children, obey your parents in
the Lord, for this is right. v. 1
What does the "in the Lord"
phrase mean?
It simply means to honor
our parents in obedience
to the Lord.
Three reasons children
need to obey their parents
2.
God commands it.
2
“Honor your father and mother”
which is the first commandment
with a promise. v. 2
Israel,
says, ‘I really did say that your
2
“Honor your father and mother”
house
which is and
the first commandment
yourwith
ancestor’s house
a promise. v. 2would
serve me
forever.’ But now the LORD says,
‘May it
never be! For I will honor those who
honor
me, but those who despise me will b
cursed!
1 Samuel 2:30
exactly
what the LORD your God has
commanded you; do not turn
right or left! 33 Walk just as he
has commanded you so that you
may live, that it may go well with
you, and that you may live long in
the land you are going to
possess.
Deuteronomy 5:32-33
Three reasons children need
to obey their parents:
3.
God promises to bless
those who do
So that it may go well with you
and that you may enjoy long life
on the earth. v. 3
5
Now if you obey me fully and keep
my covenant, then out of all nations
you will be my treasured
possession. Although the whole
earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a
kingdom of priests and a holy
nation.’ These are the words you
are to speak to the Israelites.”
Exodus 19:5-6
Three steps you must take if you
have difficult parents:
1. Thank God for giving these parents
to you, forgive them from your heart,
and remove all bitterness towards
them. (Eph. 5:20)
2. Demonstrate a godly attitude
toward your parents
3. Practice deeds of love and kindness
toward your parents.
Conclusion
If we are rebellious and disrespectful
toward our parents who gave us life
and sustenance, we also probably will
be rebellious and disrespectful toward
God, our creator and sustainer.
Disrespect toward parents and God will
also carry over into disrespect for all
authority.
Frank Thielman
Conclusion
Remember, this is all about
reflecting God’s glory in
Jesus Christ to a lost world.
By obeying and honoring
your parents, you are
following the example of
Jesus Himself.
“3 But understand this, that in the last
days difficult times will come. 2 For people
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of
money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, ungrateful,
unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable,
slanderers, without self-control, savage,
opposed to what is good, 4 treacherous,
reckless, conceited, loving pleasure
rather than loving God.
Proverbs [Link] “Discipline your
son, and he will give you peace;
he will bring delight to your
soul.” Just make certain to be
consistent in that discipline.
The word “honor” (in Exod. 20:12) is a
Hebrew word with a root meaning of
“weight” or “heaviness.” It is the
same word often translated “glory” in
reference to the Lord.
To glorify the Lord is to attach the
utmost weight or significance to who
He is and what He does.
It means to assign Him the highest
place because He is worthy of it.
