Deuteronomy 5.16

“‘Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.’”

Finally, in these introductory comments on the fifth commandment and its related statutes and rules, we must recognize that perhaps the best way we honor our parents, and all those whom we are called to love and serve, is when we live in such a way as to reflect praise and honor on them in the eyes of others. When children make their parents proud because of some good work or deed they have accomplished, they are honoring their parents. When others find pleasure or joy, or take pride in us as their friends, church members, or members of their community, we are showing them a form of honor.

By contrast, when our lives bring shame, disgrace, or disappointment to those we are called to honor, we fail in our calling to love and serve them as the fifth commandment requires. Thus by our lives at all times, not merely when we are with our parents or others, we must work diligently to bring honor on those whom God has placed in our lives as the objects of our respect, service, and love.

T. M. Moore

The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.