Skip to main content

Ephesians 6:2-3: Honor Your Father and Mother


Ephesians 6:2–3
[2] “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), [3] “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (ESV)

In Ephesians 6:1, the Apostle Paul instructs children to obey their parents.  Here in these verses he instructs children to honor their father and mother.  Is there a difference? I believe that there is. Obedience is an action. Honor is an attitude. What is the Word telling us? God is not only concerned with what we do, but how we do it!

You can obey your parents while grumbling in your heart against them. If that is what you are doing, you are disobeying God’s command to honor your parents. To honor is to give respect, to esteem, to hold up high. The Bible says that this command is with a promise; "that it may go well with you and you may live long in the land."

Modern day “dad” translation:

“Boy, if you want to live until your next birthday, you better watch your attitude!”

I find it very interesting that when we looked at Ephesians 5 we discovered that the Husband very much needed to feel respected. The wife is commanded to respect her husband. It’s not natural for her, but it is vital to the relationship. Children, your father was created with a need to be respected. You need to give him that respect. Some day, if you are fortunate enough, you may become a parent. And you will understand just how intense that need for respect really is.

There is promise. As you respect your father your relationship will be so much more enjoyable. It will go “well with you.” Now, I know that the ones who really struggle with this verse are the big kids. The adult children. You have become a parent yourself. You are no longer called to obey your parents. But, the command to honor your parents has not stopped.

In tomorrow's devotional we will look at the commands that have been given to fathers. The fact is, sadly, that many fathers have done such a terrible job of raising their children that it becomes almost impossible for their children to honor them. This puts children in a very difficult position. How do we honor parents who are not honorable? In the same way that Christ loves the church. He loves us in spite of our sinful failures. It is all about grace.

If you are reading this and you have a parent who is hard to honor I have great compassion for you. I want to give you just a few suggestions.

1. You do not have to allow your parents to continue to abuse you.

 2. Honoring your parents does not mean excusing or justifying their behavior.

 3. Having a heart that is willing to honor your parents may not change your parents, but it will change you.

 4. You must forgive.  That forgiveness cannot be contingent upon them being sorry.

 5. Your heavenly father will give you all that your parents failed to give you.  Seek those things from Him and offer grace to your earthly parents.

Children, you are called to honor your parents. That calling will never go away. Your parents are not perfect, but it does not change your need to honor and obey them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,
2 comments
Read more

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu
6 comments
Read more

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co
Post a Comment
Read more