Honor thy father and mother...

Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Honor thy father and thy mother. Let's read some more verses on mothers and fathers--

Exo 21:15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

To death!

Exo 21:17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

To death!

Amazing, truly amazing. Talk about having RESPECT for your parents. Why do you think this is so important? We live in a day when respecting- when honoring your parents seems to be optional, not truly required. Millions, yes, I said millions because it's true- millions of children disobey their parents, they don't honor their parents, not really. Talking back to them, lying to them, outright disobeying them, cursing at them, mouthing off in so many ways, this it the norm, not the exception. Even little children are commonly seen and known to be disrespectful of their parents- I'm talking 2-3 year olds that are allowed to get away with beginning their rebellious ways that develop into 4-5 year olds that only continue to behave horribly and so on. You know what I'm talking about. We even see if portrayed in comedies on televison and in the movies where they highlight children with defiant attitudes, mouthy children who act as if they are the parent not the child at all and those movies applaud those children, they are the stars of the shows. All this glorifies disobeying God's command!

Why is this so important, because God is our HEAVENLY FATHER! He is our FATHER! If we have no respect, no honor for our earthly parents is it possible at all to truly have honor and respect for our Heavenly Father? It's not. Our God may allow us to go through severe trials and tribulations and we are to do so without dishonoring Him. I'm talking SEVERE trials, horrific trials and so those people who have horrific parents are STILL required to honor them and respect them- this is a trial they are called to bear. Is it easy? Do I say this lightly? NO! And NO! Children who are called to endure parents completely undeserving of respect and honor face an amazing trial of their faith.

Let's read more verses on mothers and fathers--

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

Pro 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother

Pro 23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
Pro 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
Pro 23:24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
Pro 23:25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

Pro 28:24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Mat 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Mat 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

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Now let me ask a question we've been asking of every commandment we've studied so far- should there ever be a time when this commandment should no longer matter? Should this commandment ever be done away with? NO, and NO!

Why would there ever come a time when it would be okay to dishonor your parents? At what point in history would this be applicable? Did Christ's coming and fulfilling the law do away with this? Never! We've already studied and know that Christ did not do away with any of the ten commandments of God, not a single one. Our Savior was able to keep - to fulfill- all the laws perfectly revealing that they are all just and good, that they are all written and given through LOVE.

By the grace of God may we - through the LOVE of God keep all the commandments fully in Him. May we HONOR, truly HONOR our Father and Mother as God would have us honor them. May we fully honor God our Heavenly Father in all ways. Please Lord, bless us! Help us! Keep us! Forgive us! Love us!

Amen.