Commands for Children (Part 2) | Ephesians Study

Ephesians 6:2, Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

After a child is to obey their parents, they are to honor them. Honor means (NT:5091 timao) "to prize, i.e. fix a valuation upon; by implication, to revere:"

Doing a further study of this Greek word, we find out a little more about honor.

Children Honoring Parents

"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Matthew 15:4-8)

"For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:10-13)

Directly linked to children honoring their parents is people dishonoring God. To say that a child should not honor his parents is clearly disagreeable to God. We cannot change the Scripture to "fit our times," but our times to fit the Scripture.

"Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matthew 19:19)

"And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother." (Mark 10:18-19)

There is no doubt that Jesus accepted and preached honor to parents. This is an Old Testament command reiterated in the New Testament. Seeing that God saw fit to mention it so many times in His Word, who are we to use exceptions to this command?

Honoring God

"That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him." (John 5:23)

"Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me." (John 8:49)

The same word used for honoring parents is used in terms of honoring God. Jesus Christ Himself was an example of One Who honored His Father.

God's Honor

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." (John 12:26)

And the same word used for honoring parents and God is used . . . for God honoring us!

Honor All Men

"Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." (1 Peter 2:17)

This, I feel, is the ultimate conclusion of honor: children are to honor their parents, believers are to honor God, and by that practice, believers should honor all men and those in political authority over them. In this day and age, we do not see a movement of honor. Instead, there are many rebellious and proud individuals who feel they should honor and obey no one. This is clearly unscriptural.