Honor Your Parents

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. — Ephesians 6:1 Have you ever noticed that most of the Ten Commandments forbid certain behaviors while only some call for positive action? The fourth commandment, for example, is positive, calling us to keep the Sabbath. And the fifth calls for honoring our parents. What’s more, only the fifth commandment includes a promise.The people of Israel took this commandment very seriously. Children could be stoned to death for being stubborn and rebellious to their parents (Deuteronomy 21:21).In the New Testament, the apostle Paul takes this commandment seriously as well, but he frames it positively in the context of life in Christ. While discussing family relationships and how to submit to each other in love, Paul instructs children to obey their parents. He doesn’t call for merely obeying parents’ directions, though; he calls for the deeper duty of honoring and respecting parents as well. When we honor and obey our parents, we honor and obey God and celebrate his gift of this fundamental human relationship in our lives.Paul notes that parents too have a basic responsibility to their children. Parenting children is an awesome responsibility that includes nurturing love, wisdom, and patience. When children and parents submit to each other in love in the life God has given them, we can expect to see flourishing, peace, and wisdom.  Father in heaven, thank you for the blessings of family life. Help us as parents and children to mirror your love and care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.