Obey and Honor Your Parents (Ephesians 6:1–3) 5/18/2025
Obey and Honor Your Parents (Ephesians 6:1–3) 5/18/2025
“Obey and honor your parents” is not a simple duty. It is a blessing that God’s saved children must surely enjoy.
The fundamental reason is that it is the channel through which we receive God’s blessings. The Ten Commandments given by God can be categorized into three sections. Most important one is love (Matthew 5:17, Romans 13:8–10). The first is to love God (Commandments 1–4). The second is to love your parents (5th Commandment). The third is to love your neighbor (Commandments 6–10). It is noteworthy that love for parents is emphasized before love for others, and a special promise of blessing is given to those who honor their parents. As verse 3 emphasizes, God promised the blessing , “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth” (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16).
- There is a hidden, true reason why God emphasized honoring parents.
It is to uphold the order of creation. the beautiful structure God established in the world (Creation Order). Why is the world suffering? It’s because this order of Creation was broken after the Fall in Genesis 3.
1) Honoring parents is the foundation of establishing family order.
① God established parents as life-givers, nurturers of that life, and spiritual priests of the family that blesses life. All people receive life through their parents, and grow within their love, comfort, support, and prepare for their future. This is how people learn to create a character and life that respects and obeys others in the world.
② Children who don’t receive this love and support from parents cannot grow up normally. They live feeling unloved, battling lifelong loneliness and low self-esteem. Lack of parental protection and comfort leads to lifelong anxiety and aggressive tendencies.
③ In extreme cases, this leads to isolation, hostility, and destructive behaviors. People may crumble due to depression, panic disorders, violence, and addiction. These issues break down not just individuals but entire communities.
2) Honoring parents is the foundation of spiritual order in serving God.
① From the moment re receive salvation, we serve God, receive His answers, blessings, and victory. But how do we develop a heart that obeys an invisible God? While it’s a grace of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 4:6), it is rooted in the life of honoring our physical parents.
② There are Biblical examples of those who enjoyed this blessing. Isaac received a 100-fold blessing, the blessing of the source of springs, and the Rehoboth blessing. His obedience on Mount Moriah was a foreshadow of Christ’s obedience to the Father even unto death (Philippians 2:8). When God rebuked disobedient Israel, He referenced the obedience of the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:1–19).
3) Honoring parents is the foundation for obedience to all God-given authorities.
① Within that, there are leaders in various communities established to govern and help us. Teachers, national leaders (Romans 13:1–3), church officers and pastors (1 Timothy 5:17, Galatians 6:6). It says that in the last days, people will reject all authority, including parents, leading to deeper suffering (2 Timothy 3).
② When we obey to God’s established order, the community is revived, and darkness is broken. The spirit working among disobedient people (Satan) will be destroyed (Ephesians 2:2). With that evidence, we can serve in world evangelism.
- How should we serve our parents? The Bible teaches three things.
1) It says to “obey your parents in the Lord” (1).
① The Greek word for “obey” means “to listen attentively” and “to follow well.” True obedience starts with carefully listening to parents and spiritual leaders. The result of that is obedience in following through. Many regret ignoring their parents’ words later in life.
② “In the Lord” means to consider God’s will in everything they say. Then we can see what we must obey. This is why Christians follow the message from the pulpit. They hear God’s will in it, and that leads to wellness in everything.
2) It says to “honor your father and mother” (2).
① to “honor” means to cherish and to revere. When David introduced himself to King Saul, he said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem” (1 Samuel 17:58). What family line was Jesse from, and whose grandson was he? Jesse descended from Rahab, a prostitute, and Ruth, a Moabite woman.
② David was not ashamed of his lineage. He proudly held onto the gospel they chose, and honored them with gratitude and reverence. All you need is to be grateful for the gospel your parents embraced, and because of that you are within the covenant and the blessing of a remnant.
3) It says to support your parents (Mark 7:11–13). God taught children to support their aging, poor parents, but people found excuses not to. They claimed that the money was “Corban” (devoted to God). Jesus rebuked this misuse of “Corban” to avoid supporting parents.
- This is an answer for those who carry wounds from their parents.
1) Have compassion for one another (Ephesians 4:32). No parent is perfect. Since the Fall (Genesis 3), all humans have failed and are broken (Romans 5:12). Our parents likely also suffered wounds passed down through their own parents (generational curse). Jesus died and rose to set us free so that we no longer have to live in this bondage (Romans 8:1–2).
2) Break down the darkness that seeks to destroy you through wounds from parents. Ask yourself the question, who made the most precious relationship become one of wounds and pain? It may have to do with human ignorance and greed. However, the Bible tells us that behind it all is spiritual darkness (John 8:44, Acts 10:38). Christ came as the Son of God to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
3) Wait upon the masterpiece that God is crafting through our pain. This is God’s conclusion. Joshua and Caleb grew up witnessing the failures of Moses’ generation, but later they became masterpieces of God. Along with leaders raised for the future, they conquered Canaan and passed the gospel down to us. God will make it into a testimony that can save others like you. There are so many people in the world in need of your testimony.
Conclusion – “Obey and honor your parents,” let it be said again. It is not a duty, but the foundation of all blessings to be enjoyed on this earth.
5.18.25 Obey and Honor Your Parents