Fifth Commandment
Ex. 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
This fifth commandment of God is the first commandment with a promise: long life (Eph. 6:2). We see the command repeated in Deut. 5:16 and Matt.15:4 with an addition. If we keep this commandment of God we will have a long life, if we fail to keep it, we will “die the death”. The plain truth is if we do not honor our parents, we will die the eternal death (See COSCOG7 Immortal Soul).
This fifth commandment is a transition command from our obedience to God the creator to the loving of our fellow mankind. If everybody were to keep the fifth commandment there would never be a need for the last six commandments. If we honor and obey God, we would not be sinful and hurtful to our fellow humans. Jesus pointed this out in John 15:10-12.
Honoring your mother and your father goes both ways. We often think of this command as children honoring parents. It is true children should honor their parents but like God the parents must also be honorable. This commandment is much deeper than having physical children honor their parents. Only God deserves honor as he is creator. Once again, we see a seamless flow from one commandment to the next all tied in with God’s creation. While children honoring their parents is one perspective of this commandment, it leaves out the greatest perspective. God is our Father, He created us and the universe and He is deserving of our honor. Additionally, we created our children and like God he asks our children to honor us, as we honor Him, as parents are the creators of their children. Once again, a commandment based on the creation of God and all its glory and majesty. Every one of the Ten Commandments shows how great God’s creation is. Why would we ever even consider breaking His law? We need to look at the fifth commandment from three separate points of view.
First, from the parent’s point of view. If we truly want our children to honor us, we must teach them God’s way of life. “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” (Pro. 1:7-8). Keep the commandments, trust in the LORD (Pro. 3:1-3). To see what a father says to a son (or a daughter) read all the following verses (Pro. 4:10; 6:20; 7:1-4; 10:1; 23:22; 30:17; Eccl. 11:9-10; 12:1,12-14; Eph. 6:1-2). Parents must be honorable for the children to honor them, and children must listen to and learn wisdom and knowledge from their parents.
Second, from the children’s point of view. A child needs to see honor in us, and we must give the children the wisdom and knowledge of God. We must teach them to see the greatness of God through His wonderful creation. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Pro. 1:7). Wisdom for the children (Pro. 3:5-6, 13, 19-20; 4:7; 8:1-12; 9:10; 16:16 and Eph. 6:4). Our parental duty is to teach our children about God and His greatness.
Third, from God’s of view. As Christian’s we are God’s honor guard as we are also His Ambassadors (II Cor. 5:20). The fifth commandment reminds us to honor Him as He is our creator, Father. God the creator also honors us as His children (Psalm 8:1-9). We are to honor both Father and Jesus the Son (John 5:23). Only God is King of Kings and fully immortal “to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen” (I Tim. 6:14-16). Finally, we see the return of Jesus to earth saying, “Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the LORD our God” (Rev. 19:1). Through this fifth commandment of God, we see marriage for the Church of God to Jesus (Rev. 19:7).
To honor our parents and to honor God goes in several directions. We honor God to man, man to God and child to parents and parents to child. God will give long life (Eternal life with Him in His Kingdom of God for those who truly honor their parents. God will give death to those who do not honor their parents.) The fifth commandment shows we must obey God to receive eternal life with Him or suffer the eternal punishment of permanent death (Matt. 15:4). Honor our parents and our God!
Mike Wallace
