The fifth commandment: Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 Commanded to honour, not love - Commandment with a promise Severe warnings against disobeying this command: Exodus 21:15 / Exodus 21:17 / Leviticus 20:9 / Proverbs 20:20 / Proverbs 30:17 Promise becomes a warning (or curse) if we disobey Reminder to next generation of Israel, before entering the Promised Land: Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16 Promise for society, not just individuals Jesus rebuked the Pharisees: He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:3-9 Lifelong commitment to honour parents Honour through action, not just words Paul reminds us that obedience is part of honouring our parents: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Ephesians 6:1-3 How can we honour our mothers? Prize them highly Care for them Respect them Obey them Think of practical ways that you can truly honour your mother. Questions for further contemplation and discussion: Why did God command us to honour our parents and not to love them? Do you think that honouring our parents is less common today than in previous generations? If so, what impact do you think that is having on our society? What are some practical ways that you can honour your mother? How could you prize her highly? How could you care for her? How could you respect her? How could you be more obedient (or demonstrate the concept of obedience to your children)?