COMMANDMENT # 5
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 (NIV)
LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY
This is the first commandment with a promise attached. To live in peace for generations in the promised land, the Israelites would need to respect authority and build strong families. But what does it mean to "honor" parents: Partly, it means speaking well of them and politely to them. It also means acting in a way that shows them courtesy and respect (but not to obey them if his means disobedience to God). It means following their teaching and example of putting God first. Parents have a special place in God's sight. Even those who find it difficult to get along with their parents are still commanded to honor them.
MY THOUGHTS
My problem is with the "father and mother" thing. I have a problem fitting today's society into God's plan. Webster defines a "mother" as a female parent. Webster defines a "father" as a man who has begotten a child. Answers.com defines "parent" as one who begets, gives birth to, or nurtures or raises a child.
Decades ago, parents got divorced on grounds of adultery or abuse or abandonment. Today, parents don't even get married. Today we have "friends with benefits" and both parents may not even be aware they are parents. We also did not have homosexuals who were allowed by the courts to adopt children. Where did we go wrong? How can we get back to the place where we should be?
None of today's societal ills absolve us of our duty to God or this commandment. We are still to honor our father and mother. Note that the father is listed first, as he is the head of the household.
John MacArthur says, "The key to societal stability is reverence and respect for parents and their authority." That respect and reverence transfers to those in position of authority. Mystery Babylon has infiltrated our schools, government, and even our homes. We believe those who preach evolution, promote homosexuality, and say that babies in the womb are just clumps of cells and that it is o.k. to destroy them.
The Bible goes even farther in reverence to your parents: "If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood will be on his own head." Leviticus 20: 9 (NIV)
Do you know you are also instructed to "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God"? Leviticus 19:32 (NIV)
John MacArthur says, "The key to societal stability is reverence and respect for parents and their authority." That respect and reverence transfers to those in position of authority. Mystery Babylon has infiltrated our schools, government, and even our homes. We believe those who preach evolution, promote homosexuality, and say that babies in the womb are just clumps of cells and that it is o.k. to destroy them.
The Bible goes even farther in reverence to your parents: "If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, and his blood will be on his own head." Leviticus 20: 9 (NIV)
Do you know you are also instructed to "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God"? Leviticus 19:32 (NIV)
What are your thoughts?
You are also invited to visit with Oma at http://omaslife.blogspot.com, h ttp://omaspolitics.blogspot.com, and http://tbcspeaks.blogspot.com.
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