MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Exodus 20:12
Proverbs 30:17

“… The eye that mocketh at his father,
… the young eagles shall eat it.”

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT AND YOU

The Fifth Commandment contains the duty towards father and mother. God has set father and mother over us. He has chosen them for us. Honouring them is honouring the LORD’s choice. It is in God’s eternal moral law! View and respect them as our superiors. To respect our parents means we have to be aware of how we think of them, and speak and behave towards them. Showing impatience is not honouring parents. Often young people think they are smarter so they become intolerant towards their parents. They like to think that their parents are not as up to date or in the know as they are. We are to obey our parents, even unbelieving parents, as long as their commands are not sinful. Knowing this, Christian parents must inculcate in their children from young reverence and honour for them through respect and obedience. A child who hits his parents, screams and shouts at them, is defiant, or throws tantrums will grow up ignoring the Fifth Commandment. Let us teach our children from young to submit to correction. To honour is also to show love and care. This is displayed in how we take care of them and help them. They may become slower, weaker, less alert and more infirmed as they age. This is the time especially when we have even more opportunities to obey this commandment by showing patience, love, and care. God used them to bring us into existence. They cared for us.

This is very lacking today as young people are increasingly disrespectful and resistant to any form of authority. Christians ought not to be. Besides natural parents, the Westminster divines include all who are our seniors, superiors, authorities beyond our family. These are superiors and authorities God has set over our life. Obey, respect, and be grateful to them. This command also expects that parents and superiors ensure they live and act in ways that earn honour through love and care, and not provoke to anger and disrespect.

THOUGHT: What have been my speech, attitude, and behaviour towards my parents?
PRAYER: LORD, forgive me for not honouring the authorities Thou hast set over me.