Honoring Father and Mother

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Ephesians 5, 6; Lord's Day 38
Psalters: 250, 366, 322, 223
  1. It is God s goodness to us that we have the fifth command.
    1. Authority is the God-given right to rule.
      1. It is the right to set the standard for others of what is right and wrong, to demand compliance, and to judge.
      2. All authority is God s because he created, upholds, and governs all things (Rom. 11:36).
      3. Chiefly, God conferred all authority to Christ when He ascended: Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:19ff; Phil. 2:11,12..
    2. Among men God gives His authority in four areas of life - all called father.
      1. Natural fathers beget or adopt us into their family (Heb. 12:9)
      2. Domestic fathers are masters (II Kings 5:13).
      3. Political fathers (Isa. 49:23) are vested with God s authority (Rom. 13; Prov. 8:15; I Peter 2:13-17).
      4. Spiritual fathers are office-bearers (I Cor. 4:15).
    3. The home/family is the school in which God teaches the art of obedience.
  2. God requires that His children show all honor, love, and fidelity.
    1. Honor is inner respect and esteem; it is to think highly of them (Heb. 12:9; Lev. 19:3).
      1. Honor is first because it is given to God and to His office.
      2. Fidelity is faithfulness shown also when parents are old.
    2. Proper honor is the basis for our obedience and submission.
      1. Obedience is a yielding of ourselves to do as commanded.
      2. Honor submits when we may not obey, being willing to bear the consequences of not obeying them.
  3. God motivates us to obeying the fifth command.
    1. First, the knowledge that it pleases God to govern us by their hand (Col. 3:20).
    2. Also, this is the first commandment with promise.
    3. Love God and show our love for Him by obeying Him and His will for us.