Honouring Parents and Given Authority | Dr. Conrad Mbewe

Dr Conrad Mbewe preached from Exodus 20:12 on “Honouring Parents and God-Given Authority,” explaining that the fifth commandment is about the custodians of worship and our duty to God. He described it as a twin commandment because, although salvation is personal, the Christian life is not lived in isolation but in community and under God-ordained oversight. The commandment teaches that our relationship with God is reflected in how we relate to those He has placed in authority over us. First, he explored who our father and mother are, explaining that the command extends beyond biological parents to include all those whom God has legitimately placed over us. Referring to Genesis 45:8, he showed that the title “father” can be used in a broader, non-biological sense, while Exodus 22:28 reminds us that authority figures are God’s appointed servants and their position should be respected and guarded. Second, he explained what it means to honour them, emphasising that honour involves respect, reverence, submission, and obedience. This principle also applies to governing authorities, as seen in Romans 13:1–2, 5, and 7, and believers are called to be obedient unless they are commanded to disobey God or participate in sin. God has established authority structures to bring order to His world, and Leviticus 19:1–3 demonstrates that honouring authority is a practical expression of obedience to Him. Finally, he addressed the connection between the fifth commandment and the promise concerning the land, explaining that the Canaanites lost the land because of their idolatry and rebellion against God’s Word. In the same way, persistent disobedience to God’s appointed order leads people away from Him. The sermon concluded by reminding us that this is not merely an Old Testament principle but a universal one, calling Christians to honour and submit to God-given authority as part of faithful worship and discipleship.