“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12
The fifth command of what are commonly called "The 10 commandments" is often referenced, but our understanding of its purpose can be superficial at best. Obviously, a liberated, free society that cares about human and civil rights would agree that this "duty" is appropriate and respectable for modern citizenry, but it conveys a message far beyond that sentiment. Some people mistakenly understand that the first four commandments refer to our relationship with God, while the last six refer to our relationships with our fellow man, but I disagree.
The first five, including Ex 20:12, refer us Godward. Let's consider the two greatest commandments cited by our Lord Jesus. In Matthew 22:35-40, the Lord declared that we must love the Lord first and foremost, and second, we must love our neighbors as ourselves. His statement not only summarizes these 10 commandments, but even further, the entire Old Testament writ of the Law and the Prophets.
So, to love God supremely, it is obvious that we must not hold to a greater love (for any one, any thing, or any god) more than the love we have for Him. We will reject idolatry. We will shun any use of the Lord's name, character, or reputation in a frivolous or deceitful manner, and we will honor the Sabbath, which is far more than a one day per week procedure, but rather according to Hebrews, a lifetime of resting in the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ's salvation. That covers commandments 1-4. If we love our fellow man, we will not deprive him of life, corrupt his/her marriage or sexuality, steal, lie, jealously crave to strip him of anything that he possesses, or withhold anything that could bless him. That summarizes commandments 6-10.
What about commandment #5 and how is that command Godward since it involves our relationship with our own parents? Because parents, father and mother, are designed by the Lord to be proxies for Himself, to reveal His character, His kindness, His mercies, His trustworthiness, His faithfulness, His discipline, His power, etc. All of our parents miss this mark because sin has ruined the family blueprint, but to a small child, no one is more God-like than his parent, even the most flawed parent. The child is completely dependent on his parent, and his parent holds all power and all authority. The child lives solely according to the provisions and care of his parent.
As a child, this commandment displays our submission to the Lord as we submit to the proximate ruling authority He placed over our lives through our parents. As an adult, this commandment displays our satisfaction with the Lord. He does all things well. He gave our parents to guide and shape our lives. The commandment is not about "paying them back" in their later years, but by caring for them and their well-being, we reverence the Lord who gave them to us. We testify that the Lord is good, and that we are satisfied with Him and His goodness.
Honoring our parents is far more than respectable behavior. It is humble submission to the authority of God, which demonstrates itself in sacrificial service to our parents. Hence, we love God, AND we love one another. In practical terms, if this were merely an instruction that "respectable", responsible people should follow, then you will not succeed in honoring your parent. Oh, you may care for your parent to the finish line, yet lose much of your mind and senses along the way. But victory and joy will come only through finding satisfaction in the Lord and contentment with His will. Then, without question, your parent will be honored.
January 27, 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment