Jul 20 – Honour Them!

“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

Among the Ten Commandments, only one is accompanied by a specific promise. The Lord declares that if you honour your father and mother, your days will be prolonged. Notice how a blessing is attached to this commandment.

Some may complain, “My mother betrayed me,” or “My father treated me harshly,” and continue to find fault with their parents. Yet such people should pause and remember that, during the years when they knew nothing of life, their mother nourished them at great personal sacrifice and their father laboured diligently to provide for their needs and upbringing. Therefore, in obedience to God’s command, they should honour their parents.

Honouring parents involves far more than giving them a small amount of money each month. It means speaking to them with love, caring for them with tenderness, and setting aside time to be with them.

If you desire your children to care for you in your old age, should you not do the same for your own parents? “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8-9)

Today, many young people choose a life partner according to their own desires and emotions, only to face difficulties later. They often disregard the counsel of their parents. Yet parents who genuinely care for their children usually have a vision and concern for their future. Therefore, do not act impulsively in a way that hurts their hearts or breaks the bond of their love.

Consider Isaac. Even at the age of forty, he patiently allowed his father to seek a suitable wife for him. In the Lord’s perfect timing, God Himself provided the very best partner for Isaac.

Now consider Absalom, the son of David. Driven by ambition and a desire to become king, he rebelled against his father. He pursued David, sought to seize his throne, and committed acts that were grievous in the sight of the Lord.

In the end, Absalom was left hanging alive from a tree. Joab took three spears and thrust them into his heart, and ten of Joab’s young men struck him down and killed him (2 Samuel 18:14–15). What a tragic and painful end!

The lesson is clear: rebellion, pride, and dishonour bring sorrow, while humility, submission to God, and respect for parental guidance bring blessing and peace.

Verse for further meditation: “He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.” (Exodus 21:15,17)