Commandment #5: Honoring Parents
Exodus 20:12
I. Introduction
-The first four commandments deal directly w/ our relationship w/ God.
1. No other gods before Him.
2. No carved image or idols.
3. Don't take His name in vain
4. Keep the Sabbath Holy.
-But a relationship w/ God has affect on all other relationships.
-Christianity is not something that works half-way.
1. You can't partially obey God & expect everything to work out.
2. You can't sometimes honor God and be okay w/ that.
-You can't live in sin, but go to church and think you are okay!
-That's why there is no aspect of your life that God does not deal with.
-Let's look at the fifth commandment...
II. Scripture
III. Background
-This is an odd commandment.
1. Children were property.
2. They were not considered people until they came of age (Bar Mitzvah/Mitzah)
3. So why would God speak to someone considered sub-human?
4. B/c they are not.
-But this commandment has to do w/ more than traditional interpretation...
1. It is about more than: Obey your mommy & daddy!
2. It's about honoring them.
-It speaks to more than just children.
1. Teens, young adult, middle aged, & even senior adults.
2. It crosses generations and age groups.
IV. More than Obey
-It has to do with more than obedience.
-You should obey your parents.
-Ephesians 6:1-4 "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.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
-What about sinful parents?
1. You must obey them unless they tell you to do something wrong.
2. Ill. Nashville Dillards family: Father using child to shoplift.
-The emphasis is on honoring your parents.
1. Not respect, that is earned.
2. Honor comes out of your role or title.
3. It is not earned & it cannot be forced.
-Mark Twain said: "It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them."
-Parents, be worthy of the honor you receive.
1. Just b/c you have the title of mother or father doesn't make you one.
2. I'm tired of hearing about dead-beat dads & messed up moms.
3. Being a parent requires a lot of work and the grace of God.
V. To Teens
-Teens must honor their parents.
-There is something about this age that makes it difficult to honor parents.
1. You're getting closer to the age of independence.
2. You're wanting to try out your wings.
-But you must still honor your parents.
-Sinful: a teenager that treats their parents disrespectful and rude.
1. Disobeys this command.
2. Or a child or a young adult or a middle aged adult that does the same.
3. The older you get the more you ought to honor your parents!
-I know teenagers think they know everything.
1. You don't.
2. Neither do your parents.
3. But they know a whole lot more than you!
4. [Parents will be quoting this sermon for some time to come.]
-You don't pay the bills, have a job that pays the bills, or pay taxes...
1. This world is a whole lot bigger than you think it is.
2. And parents have your best interest in mind.
-Ill. Mark Twain said the older he got the more surprised he was at all his Dad knew.
VI. Aging Parents
-Honoring your parents also has to do with taking care of them when they get old.
-In Biblical times there was no Social Security.
1. No retirement benefits.
2. You only had your children.
-Today we live in an age that is getting closer & closer to euthanasia.
1. The idea that we kill off the elderly is sinful.
2. There is no honor in that!
-The ppl that raised you and provided for you when you were defenseless children are to be honored and not scorned.
-We are called to take care of our parents in their sickness or old age.
VII. Honor Parents in Life
-Honor your parents in the life you live.
-Some Jews had an idea of eternal life being through your children.
1. So if you had no children, it was considered a curse.
2. You lived on through your children.
-Your children would honor you by living for God.
-"He's a good man, but his kids are wicked."
1. Ever heard that?
2. Ever heard of Eli's (Samuel's mentor) sons Hophni & Phineas?
3. They were wicked priests that God killed.
4. Eli was shamed, b/c his sons did not honor him in the way they lived their lives.
-Note: you should live for the Lord, b/c that's the right thing to do.
1. Not to just "honor your parents."
2. Parents, don't just bring your kids to church b/c you know you should.
3. The life has to come along!
VIII. Honor In Spite of Them
-Maybe you have parents that aren't worthy of honor.
-It's a reality today.
-God says to honor them in spite of themselves.
1. It doesn't mean they were good parents, or even tried to be.
2. It doesn't mean that you have to approve of the things they did.
-But God says you must honor them if only out of their biological tie to you.
-Why? B/c you might win them to the Lord.
IX. To Parents
-A good parent desires their children to be more than they are.
1. Go farther, deeper spiritual life, accomplish more, etc.
2. We're too busy making the perfect lives for ourselves when we should be investing in our kids.
-Parenthood is self-sacrifice.
1. It's expensive.
2. It takes up time.
3. It requires emotional energy
4. You'll lose some sleep.
5. You'll miss your favorite TV show.
6. You won't be able to run around & do the things you use to.
-Self-sacrificing parents are ones that are easy to honor.
-Parents, children learn from your example.
1. Not only what you say, but what you do.
2. Actions speak louder than words?
3. Actions mute your words.
-Ill. Warren Mueller conducted a study
1. Results: if both Mom & Dad attend church regularly, 72% of their children remain faithful.
2. If only Dad, 55% remain
3. If only Mom, 15%.
4. If neither attended regularly, only 6% remain faithful.
-The deciding factor in the spiritual life of your children is not going to be...
1. ...the preacher
2. ...the SS teacher.
3. ...the youth leader.
4. It is the parent's example!
-Ill. Farmer lost his crop of grain to a hail storm just before harvest.
1.The entire crop was demolished.
2. After the storm, the farmer, with his son went out on the porch to see the crop.
3. The little boy looked at the destroyed field and began to cry while looking to his father.
4. He expected his father to give words of despair.
5. Instead he began to sing softly: "Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee."
6. That little boy went on to be a great preacher and was quoted as saying: "That was the greatest sermon I ever heard."
7. The father lost a grain crop, but gained an eternal inheritance.
-It doesn't matter if your child is...
1. ...the smartest in their class.
2. ...the best ball player.
3. ...the most talented.
4. ...a college graduate.
5. ...making a lot of money.
6. ...in a good job.
7. ...successful by the world's standards.
-What matters is where they will spend eternity.
X. Conclusion
-Maybe you want to be a better parent...
-Maybe you need help honoring your parents...
-Come receive a touch from God this morning...
-This is the only commandment with an explicit promise.
-...that you may live long[er] in the land the Lord your God gives you."
Response
