Honor Due to Parents

The Responsibility of Children

According to the wise man Solomon, by what is every child known?

“Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.”

Proverbs 20:11.

What is the duty of every child toward his earthly parents?

“Listen my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”

Proverbs 1:8.

What does the fifth commandment require of children?

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12.

Note – To the child to young to know God, the earthly parent takes the place of God. Learning to honor, respect, and obey the earthly parents is the child’s first and most important lesson in learning to honor, respect, and obey God, his heavenly Parent. Benjamin Franklin well said: “Let thy child’s first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.”

For how long a time should one honor his parents?

“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22.

Note – As long as parents live, they should be honored and respected by their children. The duty enjoined in the fifth commandment does not cease at maturity, nor when the child leaves the parental roof, but continues throughout life.

Disobedient, Dishonorable Offspring

What is the character of a child who will not listen to his father’s instruction?

“A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.”

Proverbs 15:5. 

What is on way in which a child may dishonor his parents?

“He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” Proverbs 28:7.

What is said of one who robs his parents?

“He who robes his father and mother and says, “it’s not wrong” – he is partner to him that destroys.” Verse 24.

How did the Jewish leaders in the days of Christ, for the sake of gain, make void the fifth commandment?

“But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.”

Matthew 15:5,6.

Note – The word translated “gift” in this text means a thing dedicated to the service of God is the Temple. In this way the Jewish leaders, by their traditional law, taught children that by saying their property was dedicated to the Temple or religious purposes, they were free from the obligation to honor and support their parents, thus making void one of the commandments of God. This Christ condemned.

In what other ways do some dishonor their father and mother?

“There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.” Proverbs 30:11.  

The Spirit of Honor and Obedience

What course on the part of children is well pleasing to the Lord?

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Colossians 3:20. 

In what spirit should children obey their parents?

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1.  

How did Jesus honor His parents?

“When he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51.

What did the wise man say would be the fate of the one who curses his father or his mother?

“If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.“ “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.” Proverbs 20:20; 30:17. 

What is the reward of those who honor their parents?

“Honor your father and your mother, so may you live long in the land that the Lord God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12.

Note – The fullness of the promise will be realized in the life to come when the earth, restored to its Edenic beauty, will become the eternal home of all those who have truly honored their parents and kept all God’s commandments.

What comment has the Apostle Paul made upon this commandment?

“Honor your father and your mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2,3. 

The Modern Trend

In what age of the world is disobedience to parents to be especially manifested?

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Note – Disobedience to parents is a marked characteristic of the present generation. Never before was it so common or so widespread. The root of evil, however, lies not so much in the children as in the parents. Many of the latter are disobedient to God, their Father in heaven, and so have failed to bring up their children in the fear of God and in ways of righteousness. Bible instruction, lessons of faith, and prayer must not be neglected in the home if we would see obedient, God-fearing children growing up in the world.  

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