Children, Honor Your Father & Mother

Here Paul transforms the basic element of society, the family, and speaks to us on how to live in light of the Gospel. When we let kids call the shots, we break God's order and deceive them. They learn to reject authority, negatively affecting society.

The relationship between parent and child is a picture of our relationship to God (Prov 3:11-12, Heb 12:5-11)

1. WHO?
   Children (Gk. tenkon) of any age who live under their parents. Here Paul addresses children, which shows that we must let children hear the Word preached as well.

2. WHAT?

OBEY
(Gk. hupakouo) Children, are to come under their rank by coming under their own parent's words. Children are to obey promptly, continually, and absolutely, not only at certain times (eg. church), which teaches hypocrisy. Children must obey their parents in the Lord. They must be in the Lord to do so.

HONOUR
(Gk. timao – to set a price on, value) God has given the parents their office. It is not enough for outward moral conformity. Obedience deals with actions; honour deals with attitudes.

3. WHY?

IT IS RIGHT
(Gk. dikaios) Even in common grace, unbelievers recognize that children ought to obey their parents.

GOD SAYS SO
(Ex 20; Deut 5) In the Ten Commandments.. This command bridges the first vertical (with God) commandments to the remain horizontal (with others) commandments.

PROMISE
This promise holds true for obedient Christian children. Those who have a new heart will live a long and well in the new heavens and earth.

CONCLUSION
Ex 19. - If we obey God, we will be a kingdom of priests to the nations. Obedience to parents shows evangelistic ramifications. Whitefield – You must be born again.