Expert: Pastor Ron - 2/6/2012

Question
Hello and thak you for your time!

What does the reference to Honour thy Father and Mother in these passages mean?

Are they teaching that there is a Biblical mandate to provide for your parents when they are old and the scribes and pharisees were saying that if you give a gift to the temple than you were not obligated to provide for your parents and Jesus said
they made the Word of God of none effect by their actions.

What if the child is married and has their own family now?

Thanks again

Answer
Dear Zeek,

The word "honor" in the Greek means "to prize, that is, fix a valuation upon; by implication to revere: - honour, value, to esteem, etc."

When JESUS addressed the hypocrisy in Israel for them adding to and subtracting from The LAW of GOD that required this very attitude and action from children to their parents, HE was showing them that they had polluted HIS Law and substituted it with their own law. Their law was the result of their additions and subtractions to HIS Law, which contained many non-biblical traditions and practices. The same exists today in Israel as well as in traditional Christianity. JESUS was rebuking them and all who do such things!

Keeping in mind that JESUS also said that HIS disciples were not to call any human "father" in the sense of comparison to THE FATHER in heaven, we must understand that when one is born again, he/she enters into a new FAMILY; The family OF GOD. And now THE FATHER in heaven is the one that he/she must honor above all. That does NOT mean that we are to abandon our earthly parents, but if they are NOT born again, our relationship with them will only last on this side of eternity. JESUS put it this way when his blood relatives came to see HIM;
Mat 12:46-50
(46)  While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.
(47)  Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You."
(48)  But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"
(49)  And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers!
(50)  "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

So from this we understand that HIS first priority was to those "who does the will of MY FATHER in heaven." HE is the ONE that all of our attitudes and actions should honor.

So, how does one honor his/her earthly parents? By honoring our Heavenly FATHER! For example; To live in and speak the truth to your earthly parents, honors both; earthly and heavenly. To love and respect your earthly parents (unless their wishes would put you at odds with your heavenly FATHER), are attitudes/actions that honor both (earthly and heavenly). One cannot honor his/her heavenly FATHER by participating in activities that one's earthly parents might desire (i.e. pagan holi-days, traditionalism, ets). So speaking the truth regarding any/all practices in opposition to GOD'S WORD, even to one's own earthly parents who are involved in them, would be honoring your heavenly FATHER, even though it would not feel like you are honoring your parents. But if you value their eternal state above their temporal state, you would be compelled to inform them. Would you not?

JESUS was rebuking the traditionally minded Jews of that time for their replacement of GOD'S LAW with their own. In doing so, HE honored HIS heavenly FATHER, even above HIS earthly family. We must learn from HIS example and do the same!

May you be blessed as you seek HIM according to HIS WORD and beyond tradition!

Sincerely,
Pastor Ron