“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12
You will recognize this at the 4th Commandment. It is also the only Commandment that includes a promise with it. It is the first Commandment given in the Second Table of the Law which deals with our relationship with others. Just as the first three Commandments are concerned with our relationship with God, so the final seven are focused on our relationship with our neighbor, or all people. The First Table of Commandments requires love toward God, and the Second Table requires love toward others.
It is interesting that the Second Table begins with those “others” who are closest to us, namely our parents. They are the first we meet in life to whom we have our closest relations with until we are married. So God begins with them and speaks as to how we are to relate to our parents.
Like all of the Commandments, the Fourth, goes beyond what is merely stated to even deeper meanings and a larger scope. Parents are not just those who are biologically our mother and father, but to those who have authority over us and are in some way responsible for our lives. This includes guardians, stepparents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and the like. It also includes authority figures in the school, the state, in the Church and generally those who are older than us and called to help lead and guide us through life, even as they may also be younger than us.
We recognize that not all authority figures are good or wise or should be blindly followed at all times. Where they counter the Word of God, they lose their authority. However, they still deserve our respect. We should honor them, love them and regularly pray for them.
The promise in this Commandment is that as we do so, a long life will be given to us. This may mean years of living, or it could mean a quality of life, that gives us fullness in living. Either way, God promises it to us as we honor our “parents” in whatever form we find them. We do this first and foremost in honor of our Heavenly Father Who commanded us to do so and promised to bless us accordingly.
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy!
Pastor Kilian
