“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3
According to Jesus (Matthew 15:4-6) this honor includes watching out for the parents’ welfare when they are no longer able to do for themselves.
That is the minor, as obeying the right teaching and upbringing supplied by the parents is the major. This following of their teaching true to the Bible, is to be continued even after they are gone, for it is the truth, not the person, that is the principle concern.
There are three primary reasons given why this must needs be:
First, “for this is right”. God will require it in judgment.
Second, “the first commandment with promise”. It will extend on into the building of a person’s character, as well as afford them right direction and purpose for their lives.
Third, “that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”. A person’s overall well being is best served by hearkening unto the wise counsel of their parents.
Since this is God’s way, God’s order, God’s command, how one carries this out towards their parents is how they are regarding God. To not do this is to be sinning against God.
All of God’s ways are for the good of mankind. To not see this, is to be deceived. Everything right with God has promise for this life and the life to come. Everything in disobedience to God’s way will only produce regret and eternal loss.
Parents need to establish early on that a child is to respect parental authority, as a matter of honoring their parents, not as a matter of forced compliance. A child must be trained that obedience is owed to their parents for the love and care that their parents give. A child needs to understand that any defiance, disobedience, rebellion, etc., is a wrong on their part, that they should be ashamed and repent of. They also need to understand that they will face God and give account to Him for this principle for life.
SHARING
