God So Loved, King Jesus, Bless the Father, How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

How have you shown kindness and care to your parents lately?

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

We are now halfway through our series on the Ten Commandments! The fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother…,” serves as the hinge between loving God (Commandments 1–4) and loving others (Commandments 6–10).

WHY SHOULD WE HONOR OUR PARENTS?

The number one reason is simple: God commands it (Exodus 20:12). Honoring our parents is not always natural—it can be difficult. That’s precisely why it is commanded.

A second reason is that it trains us to honor God (Malachi 1:6). God connects how we treat our parents with how we respond to Him. Many people struggle to honor God because they grew up resisting or being hurt by parents who were not “honorable” in their ways.

Third, honoring our parents is foundational to life and society (Proverbs 6:20–22). When the family breaks down, society follows. A recent statistic shows that many Filipino children grow up outside a stable family structure, which often affects their foundation in life. Even those raised in complete families experience imperfect parenting—yet God still calls us to honor our parents. Authority is established by God, and it exists in different levels in our lives. Parents are our first authority (Romans 13:1–2). As Marshall Segal said, “Parents become our first education in submission.” Learning to honor them shapes how we relate to authority in general.

Fourth, honoring our parents leads to blessing (Ephesians 6:1–3). It is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life.

Fifth, dishonoring parents is taken very seriously by God (Proverbs 30:17; Deuteronomy 21:18–21). The heart of rebellion carries serious consequences. “One of the earliest shadows behind Israel’s inheritance of Canaan begins with a son dishonoring his father” (Ptr. PDV) (see Genesis 9).

HOW CAN WE HONOR OUR PARENTS?

What’s the difference between obedience and honor? If you are a child still living with and dependent on your parents, you are called to obey them. As you grow older and become independent, you are still called to honor them.

Obedience is for childhood; honor is for a lifetime.

Parents, on the other hand, are called to be honorable. Scripture warns us not to provoke our children to anger (Ephesians 6:4).

How do parents provoke their children?
1. Harsh temper and constant shouting
2. Being unreasonable or unwilling to listen
3. Excessive criticism or perfectionism
4. Hypocrisy
5. Selfishness
6. Overcontrol
7. Failing to keep promises
8. Favoritism
9. Ignoring or avoiding real issues

Instead, parents are given two key tools: discipline and counsel (Ephesians 6:4b).

Healthy discipline involves:
1. Clear and consistent rules
2. Consistent husband and wife rules.
3. Consistent application of rules.
4. Consistent in our love

Discipline should never come from anger—that only provokes children.

WHAT DOES HONOR LOOK LIKE?

1. Respect in speech (Exodus 21:17; Ephesians 4:29) Honor means speaking with respect—avoiding harsh words, sarcasm, or speaking negatively about our parents to others. Our words should build them up.

2. Listening and learning (Proverbs 23:22; 13:1) Even as adults, we are called to listen patiently and remain open to their wisdom.

3. Gratitude and value (2 Timothy 3:1; Proverbs 23:24–25) In the last days, people will be marked by ingratitude and disobedience. Even if our parents are imperfect, we can still find reasons to appreciate them. It’s never too late to begin honoring them.

4. Care and responsibility (Matthew 15:4–6; 1 Timothy 5:8) We are called to care for our parents, especially when they can no longer provide for themselves. At the same time, we must avoid enabling unhealthy dependence in those who are capable of working.
To truly care is also to help them grow in Christlikeness (Ephesians 4:15). This may even involve “reverse discipleship”—lovingly pointing them to Christ as we mature in faith (1 Timothy 5:1–2). One of the most powerful ways to honor our parents is to pray for them consistently.

HOW CAN I HONOR MY PARENTS—ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S HARD?

There are no perfect parents. Some have been deeply hurt, neglected, or even abused. Honoring does not mean pretending sin didn’t happen, removing healthy boundaries, or enabling wrongdoing.

However, it does mean:
• Refusing to hold on to hatred
• Choosing respect in attitude and action
• Entrusting justice to God
• Choosing to forgive

None of us have perfectly honored our parents. We all fall short (James 2:10). That’s why we need Jesus—not just as our example, but as the One who transforms our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26–27).

A changed heart enables us to honor.

We honor our parents ultimately for the Lord (Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:1). Forgiveness is costly—it means releasing the offender by absorbing the debt rather than seeking revenge. As Timothy Keller explained, it is choosing not to pay back the wrong done to us.

Jesus is our perfect example. He fully honored the Heavenly Father (John 12:49–50), and even while on the cross, He honored His earthly mother by entrusting her care to another (John 19:26–27).

Let Jesus change your heart so you can live out God’s command—to honor your father and your mother

Pray for the parents in your world to encounter our Heavenly Father in a real and life-changing way through Jesus Christ.

Be a channel of God’s love for them — honor them and help provide for their needs financially and spiritually.

Share the gospel with them and help them grow and mature in Christ.

• Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.

• Upright and moral governance of public servants; repentance and salvation for government leaders and citizens for a Christ-centered Philippines.

• For legislators to promote and support bills and laws aligned with God’s Word.

• Pray for persecuted Christians in Sudan and Nigeria) — many have been beheaded and murdered; earnestly seek God’s intervention to stop the bloodshed. Pray for freedom from oppression, that God’s word and His people bring them comfort and hope.

• PRAISE God that all Israeli hostages have been restored to their families! Continue to pray for Israel’s war with terrorists to end according to God’s purpose and for His glory. For Jewish people worldwide who are experiencing a surge of antisemitism. May this lead them to the Messiah, Jesus as they turn to God for help and comfort.

• For nations in turmoil (e.g., Ukraine, Middle Eastern countries, etc.) to experience true freedom in Christ and become centers for massive spiritual revivals in their regions. For new Iranian leadership to rise up that will be for the people of Iran, will promote freedom of worship that the Iranian believers will be able to reach out to the rest of their countrymen and the people of the Middle East.

• For the people of Mali who are experiencing a violent takeover of their government by Islamist terrorists.

• That CCF Members would honor and love God and make disciples.

• For elders, pastors, dleaders, and families to become holy, humble, harmonious, happy, and heart-working.

• Ministries and churches expand worldwide.

• Worship and Training Center

• Prayer Mountain

• Deeper intimate relationship with God.

• Righteous living.

• Salvation of family and friends.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”