The Fifth Commandment

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.


Honor Mom and Dad, the fifth command. So often in today’s society we see very little of this going on. Kids and teenagers often terrorize their parents and rule the roost. Adults often stick their parents away in retirements homes and communities to be forgotten. We as a society no longer respect the morals and traditions our parents held and in many cases rebel against them.

Honor, in the verb tense as it is used is defined as:
1. to hold in honor or high respect
2.to treat with honor
3.to confer honor or distinction upon
4.to show a courteous regard for


Honor as a noun as used in the definition of the verb is:
1.honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions
2.a source of credit or distinction
3.high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank
4.high public esteem; fame; glory


So, when we honor our parents, we hold them in high respect in honesty, fairness, and integrity. We treat them as a source distinction. We confer on them high respect for their worth, merit, and rank. We show a courteous regard for them out in public. Mix and match them any other way you want, but honoring your parents is a respect for them shown both publicly and privately, in the heart and in the mind.

Our parents have so much to offer us through the wisdom and knowledge of their life experiences. We may not take their opinion, but certainly taking it and considering it would be a wise move. They have been there and done that long before we ever did. Sure, they may not be able to help us with our new cell phone, or with the new computer we just got (or maybe they can), but they can help us in decisions that are common to all generation in relationships and financial dealings, business and home life.

If our parents get to the point where they are unable to care for themselves, we should be the ones to take care of them, as they did for us when we were just babes. We certainly owe them at least that much. What honor is them to stick them in a far away home to wait to die with the other old folks sent to their eventual deaths by other dishonoring children? Sure, there are conditions we might not be able to tend to, and other help may be necessary. Surely, for as long as we can, we should see that are parents are taken care of personally.

God offers a blessing for those who honor their parents. Long life is the promise for keeping this command. Not only long life personally, but that the land and nation you occupy might be long lasting as well so that further generations might share in the blessing of the promised land.

I know that there are those who have difficult parents and close relations may not be possible. That does not mean we cannot honor them and at least acknowledge the contributions they have made. Perhaps in doing so the rifts that have been made can be repaired, perhaps not. At least you have done honor to God to have shown honor to your parents.