Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Romans 13; Lord's Day 39
Psalters: 259, 322, 129, 223
  1. The authority.
    1. Authority is the right to rule, which consists of three things.
    2. All authority is God’s because he created, upholds, and governs all things (Rom. 11:36).
      1. God delegates the exercise of His authority to certain positions, called “offices.”
      2. Compliance to authority (obedience and submission) are for our good - not because God has a need of it.
    3. In the home God’s rule is in the hands of parents who combine authority and love.
  2. How must we respond to God’s authority in our “fathers”?
    1. God calls us to “honor,” render respect, soul submission. God requires that His children “show all honor, love, and fidelity.”
      1. Honor is an inner respect and esteem, to think highly of them, giving reverence (Heb. 12:9; Lev. 19:3).
      2. Fidelity is faithfulness shown also when parents are old; there is no age limit to the honor commanded.
      3. “All” requires our all, not something half-hearted; and it must be “shown” (not just empty words).
    2. Honor is the only good root for obedience and submission.
      1. Obedience is a yielding of ourselves to do as commanded.
      2. Submission means that when we may not obey, being willing to bear the consequences of not obeying them.
  3. Why are we to honor God’s authority?
    1. First, this is well-pleasing to God (Col. 3:20).
    2. Second, God adds a promise to this commandment as encouragement.
    3. Third, this is part of rendering grateful returns of ardent love to God: demonstrate our love for Him by honoring His authority.