The Fifth Commandment

Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16

This command is repeated in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:1, 2:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise.” Ephesians 6:1, 2

As in the fourth command, this one is given for the children’s good. The purpose is clear, “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” The change in the promise is that, in the Old Testament, it is a promise to the children of Israel of living long in the land and, in the New Testament, it is a promise to all believers of living long on the earth.

The truth is simple: children who obey their parents live longer; it also goes well with them, and they enjoy it. Notice this: “to honor” is interpreted as “to obey.”

(Taken from Good News/Bad News)

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