Honor Your Parents
Scripture Reading — ;
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
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Have you ever noticed that most of the Ten Commandments forbid certain behaviors while only some call for positive action? The fourth commandment, for example, is positive, calling us to keep the Sabbath. And the fifth calls for honoring our parents. What’s more, only the fifth commandment includes a promise.
The people of Israel took this commandment very seriously. Children could be stoned to death for being stubborn and rebellious to their parents ().
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul takes this commandment seriously as well, but he frames it positively in the context of life in Christ. While discussing family relationships and how to submit to each other in love, Paul instructs children to obey their parents. He doesn’t call for merely obeying parents’ directions, though; he calls for the deeper duty of honoring and respecting parents as well. When we honor and obey our parents, we honor and obey God and celebrate his gift of this fundamental human relationship in our lives.
Paul notes that parents too have a basic responsibility to their children. Parenting children is an awesome responsibility that includes nurturing love, wisdom, and patience. When children and parents submit to each other in love in the life God has given them, we can expect to see flourishing, peace, and wisdom.
Father in heaven, thank you for the blessings of family life. Help us as parents and children to mirror your love and care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Kurt Selles
Kurt Selles is the former director of ReFrame Ministries and Executive Editor of Today, serving from August 2012 through July 2026. He is a graduate of Calvin College and Seminary, and received his PhD from Vanderbilt University. Before coming to ReFrame, he served 19 years in Taiwan and China with CRC World Missions. Kurt later taught missions at Beeson Divinity School, where he also acted as the director of the school’s Global Center. Kurt and his wife, Vicki, reside in Grand Rapids and have three adult children.
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