Monday, May 24

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and 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 6:1-3

This is a very familiar passage to many of us. Perhaps you can still hear the voice of your mother or father quoting this verse to you in order to get you to behave. Perhaps you have used it in the same way with your children.

It is interesting that Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Ephesus assuming that there would be children in the congregation. He apparently expected children to be present in the worship gatherings when his letter would have been read aloud. Imagine families sitting together; mothers and fathers, sons and daughters all listening as these words are read to them. Can you imagine first century moms and dads elbowing their children and whispering, “I told you so.”

When I was a youth pastor, I would often hear kids asking the question about how far they had to take this commandment. Questions like: what are the limits of this call to obey our parents? What are the circumstances under which we don’t have to obey? What if my parents are just wrong? Of course we all know or have heard horror stories of parental abuse or neglect and in such cases strict obedience is not God’s will. We may also be in a situation where we have grown up and are out on our own, and we no longer obey like we did when we were young children. But these are exceptions and they do not negate the Biblical principle here. We are called to obey and to honor our parents!

Paul gives three basic reasons for this command. First of all, it is right. It is part of the natural order of how things work. This is virtually self-evident. No society on earth can tolerate rebellious children without serious consequences. Second, Paul appeals to the Ten Commandments. Children’s obedience is not just naturally right; it has been revealed as a requirement of God. Children in Jewish society were considered morally responsible at 13 years of age (boys) and at 12 (girls). It is significant to note that when Jesus was 12 he was confounding the teachers of the law in the temple at Jerusalem with his understanding and answers (Luke 2: 47), yet when he returned home with his parents he was still obedient to them. Finally, Paul reminds us of the promise associated with the command – the prospect of the good life and enjoying long life on earth. The promise is not so much to individuals as to whole societies. Everyone will be happier and enjoy life to the full where children are given moral responsibility and they voluntarily act in the way God intended.

This passage is describing how things are supposed to work in God’s kingdom on earth. But we do not have to look very far or very hard today to see that this is not the way most of the world operates. The Christian family is supposed to be an example to the world of the grace and love of God in action. The call for children to obey and honor their earthly parents is a reflection of the call for us all to obey and honor our heavenly father. We do not always understand what God is doing or why He requires certain things of us. We certainly will not always feel like obeying, but He is still our Heavenly Father!

Take a few moments to thank God for your parents…

If your parents are no longer living – thank Him for the memories and legacy they left in you…

If your parents were less than perfect, if they wounded you in some way – ask God to help you forgive them (for this is a part of honoring them too) and to be grateful for the few things they did well…

Ask God to help you see how you can (whatever your age or stage of life) obey His command to “honor your mother & father”…

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, though you were perfect and without sin, you were humble enough to obey and honor your imperfect parents while you were on earth. Teach us to live as your children and to learn the great joy of honoring our earthly parents in order that we might become more obedient to You. - Amen

Jeff Frazier