Introduction:

        1. We now approach the second section of the Ten Commandments.

        2. These deal with our relationships with fellow humans

        3.     A mother who had scrimped and saved to put her son through college sat in the auditorium at her son's graduation. She watched as he walked across the platform and received his degree with honors. As he walked down the aisle, instead of turning into the designated row, he kept    walking down to where his mother sat. The young man threw his arms around her neck, kissed her on the cheek and placed his diploma in her          hands said, "Here, mother, you earned it!" The fifth commandment addresses that which many parents have earned.

                4. In this commandment, God lays down a principle for the family

a. No nation or society is stronger than its families

b. As goes the home, so goes the nation, the community and the church

c. The blessings and sins of the parents have an impact on successive generations

d. Each generation begins where the previous generation has left off

        5. To fully comprehend and the meaning and practicality of this commandment, I want to unpack four key points of understanding: the rule, the reason, the response, and the reward.

I.    The Rule

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

·         The rule is “honor your father and your mother”

·         To honor our parents is to…..

o    Value them highly  --  Care for them

o    Show deep respect for them  --  Obey them

·         The parent / child relationship changes throughout the years

·         The key word is "honor."

o    The Hebrew word is kabod, which means "to be heavy."

o    The basic sense is "to treat someone with respect because they carry a heavy weight of authority.

o    Sometimes we speak of certain dignitaries as being "heavyweights."

o    It means to treat your parents as VIPs because they carry a heavy weight of authority.

A.  In Pre-Adulthood

1.     Honoring parents means obeying parents with a proper attitude

2.     Some children obey parents with an improper attitude

a)    They begrudgingly obey parents

b)    They obey with a smug / defiant attitude

3.     We are told in Lu 2:51 that young Jesus obeyed Mary and Joseph

                        51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

a)    They weren’t always right, but he obeyed them

b)    They did not have superior wisdom and moral integrity, but He obeyed them

c)    They did not know more than He did, but He obeyed them.

d)    They were not perfect parents, but Jesus obeyed them

4.     When a child refused to obey his parents, he is in effect refusing to submit to the Lord - Col 3:20

                        Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

5.     A few days ago I attended an open house at the junior high school my oldest son attends. There on the wall was his picture and underneath a series of questions he had answered. One of them read: "My hero is … My Dad because he's a great father and I want to be like him when I grow up." I can never even begin to say how I felt when I read those words. Joy, amazement, and fear—fear lest I should somehow fail my son. I'm his hero. Is there any greater reward in this world?

B.  In Young Adulthood

        Pr 15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

1.     In young adulthood, our relationship with our parents begins to change

2.     We think that they are getting dumber and they don’t understand

3.     Honoring parents involves respect and cooperation

a)    Many young people refuse to listen to their parents and often experience trouble and hardship

b)    Remember that parents often speak from experience gained from taking the hard knocks themselves

c)    Their warnings are given to steer and guide children in the right path past the obstacles of life

4.     A young girl was unhappy because her parents refused her wishes. She was heard to pray, "Please, Lord, don't give them any more children because they don't know how to treat the ones they've got now."

C.  In Adulthood

        Pr 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

1.     When we arrive at adulthood, then honoring our parents changes

2.     Honoring parents becomes treasuring them

3.     You’re Dr. Pritchard’s son aren’t you ß

D.  In Years of Mature Adulthood

1.     As we become mature adults, then honoring parents involves appreciating them

2.     We recognize and appreciate all that they did for us

3.     The older our parents become, the less our society appreciates them

a)    They can’t work anymore

b)    They begin to question their personal worth

4.     We are in the busiest time of our lives / sometimes forget our parents

II.  The Reason

A.  Parents Are Our Most Influential Relationship

1.     Studies in childhood development now show that our personalities, our behavioral patterns and relational styles are set by age six

2.     Our parents had such a powerful influence on our lives

3.     This Commandment to "honor" is in force wholly apart from the way your parents perform.

a)    You may have had lousy parents

b)    Unfortunately many children grow up with parents who are absent, or abusive, or unkind, or cruel.

c)    Your parents may have split up when you were very young.

d)    One or both of your parents may have had a drinking problem.

e)    Any of those facts will obviously affect your relationship with your parents but your parents' failure to be all they should have been does not excuse you from obeying the Fifth Commandment.

4.     The 5^th Command says, "Honor your father and mother." Period.

a)    It doesn’t say "Honor your parents if they were honorable

b)    It does not say "Honor your parents if they deserved it."

c)    It doesn’t  "Honor your parents if they treated you right

B.  Parenthood is Honorable

1.     No longer is parenthood valued as a significant contribution to society

a)    Now we’re valued for how much money we make

b)    How much stuff we own

c)    How good we look

2.     Honoring our parents seems like such an archaic value

III. The Response

A.  Become Honorable Parents

1.     This verse speaks primarily to children, but we parents need to live a life worthy of this respect

2.     Let us become honorable parents so our children can honor us

a)    Behave with integrity at home and work.

b)    Model respect for your parents before your children

c)    Speak well of your parents and mention their good points

d)    Treat authority figures and those under you with respect

3.     Children want to see us live what we profess

B.  Express Appreciation to Your Parents

1.     When was the last time you said “thanks” to your parents?

2.     When was the last time you told them that you loved them

C.  Practice Forgiveness

1.     Maybe some of you have issues with your parents that make it hard to honor them

2.     Offer forgiveness in obedience to the Lord

a)    Don’t wait till you feel like it

b)    Obey the Lord first, then the feelings will come

IV. The Reward

A.  Long Life

1.     Remember that the Ten Commandments were originally given to Israel.

a)    Israel had been delivered from Egypt and God was going to give them a land of their own.

b)    Before He led them into the promised land, God gathered them together. “Do you want to make this thing last? Do you want to pass it on to your kids? Then learn this pivotal principle: Honor your parents. Treat them with respect and honor.”

2.     George Washington had his heart set on going to sea. His trunk full of belongings was already on board the ship when he went to tells his mother good-bye. He found her with tears in her eyes and a heavy heart that was opposed to his journey. Washington turned to a hired servant and told him to go to the ship and get the trunk. "I will not leave and break my mother's heart." Her response to him was, "George, God has promised to bless the children who obey their parents." God did bless the life of George Washington and his influence lives on.

B.  Four Things This Commandment Does Not Require

1.     That we think our parents are perfect - they aren't

2.     That we think our parents are always right - they aren't

3.     That our parents are totally worthy of honor - they aren't

4.     That we have to enjoy them or be like them - we don't.

C.  Honor Your Parents this Week

1.     1. Treat your mom and dad to something special.

2.     Encourage grandparents to tell your children stories of “the good old days.”

3.     Send a video of yourself or your family to distant parents and grandparents

4.     Forgive your parents for the mistakes they might have made

5.     Ask their advice on a tough issue you’re facing… and listen.

6.     Take your children to see them

7.     Discuss ways to care for them as they age

8.     Model respect for them to your children

9.     Call them and thank them for their sacrifices in raising you

10.  Tell them they are valuable to you and you are praying for them

11.  A family went on vacation at the lake outside the city. While mother was fixing the evening meal in the house, the father and son got in the rowboat and went out on the lake for some fishing. A sudden storm blew up and clouds covered the setting sun and there was sudden darkness over the lake as the waves grew larger. As it grew dark, the mother turned the light on in the kitchen window. The father and son in the boat didn't know which way to go until the father saw the light in the window. He said, "Son, I'm going to row. Keep your eyes on that light. Help me go in the direction of the light." They made it home safely and mother was there to greet them. They explained to her how they steered by her light. I wonder, when our children get to heaven, if they will come up to us and say, "Oh, dad and mom, I made it home safe because I steered by your light."

Conclusion:

1.     If you aren't holding your parents in high regard and respect, then you need to repent of that sin

One preacher said… “In the small town in Alabama where I grew up my father was a well-known and greatly loved physician. There were four of us Pritchard boys who grew up in that small town. Outside of our circle of friends, we were known as "Dr. Pritchard's sons." In those days, that meant a certain responsibility was laid on our shoulders. We had to live up to the good name our father had established. And we knew—boy, did we know!—that if we ever got into trouble our misbehavior would reflect badly on our father. My father has been dead for 18 years. But when I go back to visit that small town, someone always recognizes me as "Dr. Pritchard's son." Such is the power of a good name; such is the enduring relationship that lasts long after a father has died. And to be truthful, the sweetest, most wonderful compliment anyone can ever pay to me is to say, "You father would be proud of you." The thought of that brings tears to my eyes even as I write these words.”