Grace for the Ages // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Aug 09 2026

There are words that have fallen from the lips of parents at least once in their life, "Because I said so!" Even the most patient moms and dads sometimes just want kids to follow instructions without stopping to explain why. It would be tempting to appeal to the fifth commandment as justification, "Honor thy father and mother." (Exodus 20:12). There are Bible verses that commend a child's obedience to a parent, but what if I told you the fifth commandment is more for adults than it is for children?Because the nature of aging and parenting in the modern world has become so revolutionized in the last few generations, the meaning of the fifth commandment can be hard to find without remembering the historical context of the Bible. In the ancient world there were no nursing homes, social security, or 401ks. Instead, generations both old and young lived in cooperative and dependent relationships within families and the aged were cared for with dignity. The fifth commandment is less about a child's blind obedience to mom and dad, but more the wisdom for all generations to build strong bonds of compassion, trust, and grace. In a world where generations have become increasingly at odds with each other, we need not only the Bible's laws to guide our parenting, but the grace of Christ to heal our estranged families. This week is a tender topic, but the good news is of God's tender-loving kindness. That is his honor, and it is how we honor one another.