Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1-4 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4

I return to my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 6:1-4 where Paul describes the Godly family, including roles for parents and for children .  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: All discipline and instruction is from the Lord - He has a specific design and intent.  Broadly speaking God seeks disciples who love, serve and please Him as we exist for His glory.  We are also all given a mission in the Great Commission to "go out and make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Children are given two commands, one to obey their parents, and two to honor their parents.  The text for the second command includes a reference to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), specifically the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12) where there is not just a command but a promise if the command is followed: "that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you."  Believers must keep in mind that this promise is a general principle vs an absolute guarantee (such as salvation).  For more on this, see this interview with John Piper from DesiringGod.com.  Fathers are commanded to not provoke their children to anger, but to raise them up according to God's discipline and instruction.  We are to teach and model Christ and spiritual disciplines.  We are also to discipline children - see also this resource for more details on Biblical discipline.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid provoking children to anger (keeping in mind they are often likely to see Godly discipline as wrong and be angry).  Children can claim the promise of a stable and blessed live based on honoring of their mother and father.  Follow the example of Christ who modeled Godly obedience as both the Son and the Father with His believers as children of God. Love God and love others as the most important commandments and be obedient to God's commands for children and parents.  

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for modeling Godly parenting as both the Son and the Father.  Thank You also for my salvation and for the mercies and blessings You pour out for me every day.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.["]

Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.["] Exodus 20:12

I pause this morning my study of Numbers to prepare for leading Sunday school as we discuss today's sermon on the fifth commandment - Exodus 20:12.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: We are commanded by God to honor our mother and father - with honor being defined generally as "respect that is given to someone who is admired."  Honor includes obedience, and how we treat someone not only when we are with them but also when we are not - upholding one's reputation.  We can only rightly do this from a biblical standpoint if we love God first and through our love of Him and in response to His love for us we love others because this pleases Him and we seek to please, honor and glorify Him.  Therefore, our love of others, including love for our mother and father, reflects our relationship with Jesus. God gives us a promise also - although we should understand that long life is not promised here but instead a general blessing of peace and satisfaction. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Often, people in teenage and young adult years seek independence from the path laid out by their parents and this sometimes manifests itself in rebellion.  This rebellion is often not just from the parent-child relationship, from the relationship with God.  Parents often feel that rebellion is a reflection upon them and to a certain extent it is, but largely it is not because there are plenty of Godly parents whose children are rebellious.  God is in control and we cannot engineer our children.  Prayer and leaning into God is the only proper response to rebellion.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeing parents as a burden.  Claim the promise of a blessed life upon honoring your father and mother.  Follow the example of Jesus who honored the will of His Father.  Love God first and in response, love, obey, and honor your mother and father. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome Holy God that is approachable and accessible - You save!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.

Proverbs 30

The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures. v17

Of course, such scripture applies to me and my mom and dad just as it applies to Zach and Dustin and how they treat myself and Lisa.

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 (see also Deuteronomy 5:16)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth".  Ephesians 6:1-3

I know I have not always honored my mother and father, including recently - I deserve death because that is the wage of sin (Romans 6:23).  Instead, I have a Heavenly Father who is rich in mercy and abounding in love, who chose me before I chose Him:


But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You are my Savior - rich in mercy and abounding in love.  You are so patient with me...thank You Jesus for Your mercies and patience.  I am not worth such efforts.  I know I deserve death but instead You took my place at the cross.  Please forgive me for not honoring my mother and father and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give myself and Lisa strength and wisdom.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. v8

Paul wants us to care for others, in particular widows and elders.  In this verse he is talking specifically for relatives who are older - my mother in my case and Lisa in the case of Zach.  

This is one of the ten commandments:

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

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion, gentleness - ALL of the fruits of the Spirit.  You are patient with me and You honor me I know.  Yet I am weak and disobedient and I have not always honored my own mom or dad or other family members.  Thank You Jesus for Your gentleness in dealing with me but please forgive me!  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Help me honor my family by serving them.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.