Title: Let's Honor Your Parents.
Contents It's Mother's Day. Some of us have sent our parents in the first place, some are living together now, and some of us are separated from each other due to circumstances. When we think of our parents, there is something that touches our hearts. I have regrets. I am sorry. I have regrets.
Speaking of filial piety, I am one of the most disqualified people. I am the eldest son, but I left home when I was in middle school and have hardly been able to see my parents until now. Last year, I returned to Korea on a sabbatical and learned Namjin's song while thinking about what to give on the way back to my hometown to celebrate my mother's birthday. “Mother, how was your day today? For a thousand years like a day, for this poor child... Live long and long. I will see you at ease.” My mother cried when I sang this song, and I cried too. I am a disloyal person to my parents, but I want to please my parents a little more through today's words.
1. Everyone, today's message is for all of us who have parents.
The Apostle Paul said in verse 1, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord.” and verse 2
“Honor your father and mother,” exhorts. The relationship between children and parents is repeated twice. Is it mere repetition? Or are you deliberately splitting the talk twice? I believe that the Apostle Paul intentionally divides his listeners into exhortation.
1) Verse 1 is a command given to young children. Young children must obey their parents. Parents have a responsibility to teach and nurture their children in the Word of God. Therefore, children should be almost absolutely obedient to their parents. But children must obey their parents in the Lord. “In the Lord” here means to obey their parents as if they were serving Christ the Lord. It also limits parental authority to “in the Lord.” Parents' orders must be in line with the Lord's will. You cannot obey the words of your parents that do not quite agree with the will of the Lord.
2) Verse 2 is a command given to children who have reached the age of majority. We must honor our fathers and mothers. Here, the Apostle Paul is quoting the 5th commandment from the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament. The fifth commandment is given not only to the children of their parents, but also to adults living with elderly parents. In particular, the commandment in Deuteronomy 21:18-21 dealing with a rebellious son is not given to the young children of their parents. It is a commandment given to adult children who are to honor their elderly parents. For children of adulthood, the father did not have judicial power to judge, so the matter had to be handed over to the elders of the city. Therefore, the words of verse 2 are the words given to us who have come of age.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Greek word for “honor” in verse 2 is “tima”. His meaning is to pay for it. Therefore, children should serve their parents with the heart of paying off their debts. Gentlemen, there is not a single person in this world who does not owe their parents a debt. Do you know the song “Mother’s Grace” composed by Hong-ryeol Lee, a poem by Joo-dong Yang? “Forgetting all my sufferings, and changing my toiling hearts day and night, changing wet and dry places, and suffering until my hands and feet are worn out. What is wide under the sky? There is no limit to your sacrifice.” Ladies and gentlemen, we have been blessed by our parents. They are people who have received a lot of sacrificial love. Therefore, we should honor our parents with the heart of paying off our debts.
2. The Apostle Paul explains three reasons why we should honor our parents.
1) We must obey and honor our parents. Because this is right. This is verse 1. “This is right.” Ladies and gentlemen, honoring your parents is so much that you do not need to quote from the Bible. It belongs to the natural law that God has written on the conscience of every person. Believers and non-believers alike admit that it is right to honor their parents. Any society has a moral obedience to parents. Greek and Roman philosophers of that time also taught this. It is also taught in the East. The foundation of Confucianism is filial piety. The black Africans I've been missionary with are also teaching obedience to their parents.
Honoring one's parents is an important ethic in all cultures. If filial piety collapses, society itself will collapse. It is not surprising that the Apostle Paul also considers disobedience to parents in Romans 1:28-32 as disrespectful to God and worthy of death.
Ladies and gentlemen, how shameful it would be if we who believe in Jesus did not do the right thing like this. Therefore, we must honor our parents. Because this is essentially the right thing to do.
2) It is naturally right for us to honor our parents. And God has specifically commanded it. When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, he also gave the commandment to honor parents. That is why the Apostle Paul said in verse 2, “Honor your father and mother, for these are the first commandments with a promise.” Honoring your parents is the 5th of the Ten Commandments. We divide the Ten Commandments in two. Commandments 1-4 are commandments of duty to God, and commandments 5-10 are commandments of duty to neighbor. Honoring your parents is the first commandment to your neighbor.
God commanded us to honor our parents. So the Jews took this very seriously. Disobedient children were punished very severely. He was even sentenced to death. To disobey your parents is to disobey God's command.
Everyone, if we honor our parents, God will make us prosper on earth. It is a promise that God will give you material blessings. Not only that, but if we honor our parents, God will give us a long life. It is a promise of longevity. We pray that we honor our parents, obey the Lord, and receive many blessings from the Lord.