Dearly Beloved Children The 5th Commandment

Dearly Beloved Children

The 5^th Commandment

One of the Ten Commandments

holds a secret to living a long life.

The Apostle Paul quotes Deuteronomy 5:16.

“Honor your Father and Mother”

- place value on them.

Of the Ten Commandments,

this Fifth one has a promise attached to it.

Many times we reward children for doing what is right

and this promise is no exception.

The conditional promise God gave the Children of Israel,

was they would live long in Canaan, the promise land.

Jesus in Matthew 15:5 quoted this Fifth Commandment,

 and said, if you dishonor your parents you should die.

Now Paul in Ephesians 6:1 uses the word “obey”

to describe the way children should honor their parents.

Paul also shows us how an Old Testament promise

still applies in the New Testament.

“That it may go well with you

and you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

It used to be that when mom or dad

said something once

they meant it;

and if they said it twice

look out it was important.

Here God is saying it three times!

So honoring our parents

must be very important to God.

Paul tells us to “obey our parents in the Lord.”

I think we can safely say not all parents teach what is right.

I do not believe this verse gives us a right

to be disrespectful to a parent

who does not acknowledge the Lord.

But those who work at teaching their children

the ways of the Lord

should receive respect and honor;

and we should obey their instruction.

It is the godly instruction that teaches us

how to live a life that will be blessed.

It is sad when we see a child

who will not listen to instruction.

But the world becomes a better place

where children learn right instruction and obey it.

I thank God for my mother and father

who gave me good instruction and

used the rod of correction when I disobeyed.

“God protects the ways of the faithful ones.”

Proverbs 2:8

Scripture Reading

Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord,

for this is right.

2 "Honor your father and mother"

-which is the first commandment with a promise—

3 "that it may go well with you

and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."  

Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV

16 "Honor your father and your mother,

as the LORD your God has commanded you,

so that you may live long

and that it may go well with you

in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Matthew 15:3-6 NLT

3 Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions,

violate the direct commandments of God? 

4 For instance, God says, 'Honor your father and mother,'

and 'Anyone who speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.'  

5 But you say, 'You don't need to honor your parents by caring for their needs

if you give the money to God instead.'

Proverbs 2:1-8 NIV

My son, if you accept my words

and store up my commands within you,

2 turning your ear to wisdom

and applying your heart to understanding,

3 and if you call out for insight

and cry aloud for understanding,

4 and if you look for it as for silver

and search for it as for hidden treasure,

5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD

and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the LORD gives wisdom,

and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He holds victory in store for the upright,

he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

8 for he guards the course of the just

and protects the way of his faithful ones.