INSIGHT
 

   Don’t you long for the warmth and security of a stable family? Isn’t it great to look forward to going to a nice, comfortable, warm, home after a tiresome day at work? Although many desire to have these things going for them the sad case is that many people are the result of broken, unstable, and abusive homes. The family unit, which is the basis of a stable and nurturing society, is being threatened by the godlessness and selfishness that comes by being disobedient to God. The commandments given at Mt. Sinai are to be the fertilizer that makes the community flourish with the love of God. The particular command that begins to address the type of relationships that we should have in our community is the fifth commandment. This commandment is a transitional one.

 

   The transition from Yahweh’s expectation of His people in relation to Himself to His expectation of His people in relation to the human family is this commandment establishing a norm for the relationship with father and mother. ¾John Durham

 

   You see, your relationship with God hangs on your personal conviction of the first commandment. Your relationship with your community hangs on your personal conviction of the fifth commandment. All of them, of course, are nothing without the first commandment being established. Without honor and respect for your parents and the elders in your community there is no reason to preserve life, tell the truth, honor your marriage and be satisfied with your self. Without honor and respect for your parents there is no respect for any kind of authority. The first four commandments focus on your relationship with God—the last six on our relationship with each other. It is no wonder, then, how many of the problems that plague our society can be traced back to the stability of the family unit. We are even hearing many community leaders speak of the importance of focusing on the stability of our families. Much, if not all, of the lack of respect for authority shown to our police and our leaders comes from the lack of attention to honor in the family. How can we, as a people of God, make an impact on our community in regard to this commandment? I believe God can work through us as He did through the nation of Israel at that time. Of course, in order for us to get to that point the first four commandments need to be a solid foundation in our heart.

 

(1 Pet 2:17) Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."
The Heart of God: The Fifth Commandment
God Among The Generations...

 

Key Text:                             Exodus 20:12

 

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

 

Theme:

This is the first commandment that carries a promise for those who keep it with a true heart. This is a transitional command. The first four deal with God's relationship with His covenant people and the next six focus on the dealings between the people of the covenant community. The root of the dealings with the community are established by the conviction of this fifth commandment. Those who regard their family relations with honor will pass this honor and respect to future generations and appropriately defer their honor to God above all.  In families where disrespect and folly reign, probably the first four commands were held with lose convictions and the rest of them will also be held loosely as well.

 

Application:

 

Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Call your parents. Let them know your plans, your whereabouts, your struggles, rekindle communication!

Tell them often that you love them!

2. See to their needs. Not only physically or financially, but emotionally.

3. Include them in your family. Make them feel at home, make them part of your family plans.

4. Learn to honor them! As you get to know who they really are and the struggles they have been through, you will find newfound respect for them. If you have been a victim of their abuse or neglect, teach them and love them as you would any other person who needs to know about the love of Jesus.

 

 May the Lord richly bless you!

 

Sermon Outline

 

God Among the Generations...

 

I. The first four commands...

       Exodus 20:2-11

   1. Focus on our relationship with God.

   2. Establish a deep conviction and set the stage

     for the type of relationship we are to have with

     each other.

 

II. The fifth commandment--a transitional one     Exodus 20:12

  1. Focuses on the adult relationship with one’s

       elderly parents.

  2. Is the first commandment with a promise.

       Ephesians 6:1-4

  3. Teaches us to love and take care of our

      natural family first. 1 Timothy 5:1-4

   4. Brings a godly conviction into our family

       relationships.

 

III. What is honor?

       Mark 7:1-13

   1. Hebrew kabad. To be rich, abounding in

    glory and greatness. To be weighty, carry

    much weight

   2. Greek timao. To fix a value upon; to prize.

    To fear.

  3. To honor someone is the opposite of shaming.

  4. To honor is to provide material needs; to place

      high value upon; to acknowledge their worth

      by word or deed.

 

IV. As it goes with your parents so it goes with God  Hebrews 12:5-11

  1. Parents are to discipline.

  2. God disciplines us for holiness

  3. Verse 9--->Respect (honor) is a must!

  4. How well you listened and obeyed your

   parents is reflected in your relationship with

   God.

 

V. Your relationship with the community

 1. Commandments 6 through 10.

 2. Goes as our relationship with our parents goes.

 3. Reflects ultimately on our relationship with God.
Small Group Study
 

Warm-up:

Discuss some effective ways of disciplining children.

 

See To It                                  Deuteronomy 21:18-21

 

1. What could have caused this son to be stubborn and

rebellious? Does any cause justify stubbornness or

rebellion in a family?

 

2. What classified this son as being stubborn and rebellious?  Why did the parents eventually had to bring him before the elders?

 

3. What made the situation change from a family matter to a community one? What does this say about those families who don’t address stubbornness and rebellion in their household?

 

Seeing It Closer                               1 Timothy 5:1-4

 

1. How is honor to be shown amongst the family and the

    brethren?

 

2. How is your religion to be put into practice amongst your family?

 

3. Do you see yourself owing something to your parents? Is there something to repay them?

 

4. What are some ways that you show honor to your mother and father? How does this reflect your relationship with God?

 

Getting To It:

Pray that above all we, as the church of Jesus Christ, may be ministers of reconciliation to all the members of our immediate family. If we cannot be ministers of peace with our immediate family, then we are simply playing the part (being hypocrites) when it comes to ministering to strangers.

 

Are there some members of your family you have had a tough time making peace with? What have been some things that have prevented you from practicing your religion? How do you see yourself being a peacemaker with them?

This week's Quiet Times:

God Among The Generations

MONDAY

The fifth commandment was not given to the children of the Israelites. It was an admonition given to the adults of the Israelite community. Of course, there is counsel for the children given in the Bible, such as Ephesians 6:1-3 and Colossians 3:20.  The focus of the command given at Mt Sinai, however, was the treatment of the elderly parents by their adult children. This can be seen clearer in Matthew 15:3-9. What verb is at the heart of this commandment? What does the verb honor mean? (Look it up in a good dictionary). Why do you think this command carried such a heavy penalty if disregarded? What were some Pharisees doing to dishonor their parents? Have you ever dishonored your parents? Have you ever used religion as an excuse not to meet your family obligations? Has your relationship with your parents made it easy or difficult to honor them? Write Proverbs 23:22 on an index card and memorize it.

 

TUESDAY

 In the New Testament, Paul says this commandment is the first commandment with a promise: Ephesians 6:2. How does honoring your parents make your life longer or better? How has honoring your parents contributed to your personal welfare? Have you held back from honoring your parents? If so, how has that attitude contributed to the kind of relationship you have now with them? Can you think of any justifiable exceptions to this duty in the Scriptures? Check out  Matthew 10:37-39; Mark 10:29-30. What are you to do if your family stands in your way of serving the Lord? Are you to honor their stand, if it is against what the Scriptures teach? What other situations could you think of where a parent might have betrayed their trust to their children? Abuse? Abandonment? Neglect? Have these things caused you to harbor hatred and dissension?  Have you brought them the reconciliation they need between them and God? Have you exhausted your efforts of attempting reconciliation? (See Romans 12:18). Write Hebrews 12:14 on an index card and memorize it.

               

WEDNESDAY

At the heart of the fifth commandment you find the preservation of society’s basic unit: the family. No nation whose family units are crumbling can stand and prosper. How do you feel about the role of a mother and father? What responsibilities do they perpetuate in our society? If you are married, sit down with your spouse and make a list of your individual and dual responsibilities to your community/society. Have you overlooked the impact you can have, even more so as children of God? If you have children, are you bringing them up to respect you for your discipleship in Christ? Do you use your family to make statements in your community? (i.e. PTA Meetings, Neighbor’s kid’s birthdays, hospitality, etc.) Are you seeking to use your marriage and your children to honor your own mother and father? How are you fostering the ties that exists in your own household and beyond the household amongst your mother and father? Write Proverbs 30:17 on an index card and memorize it.

 

THURSDAY

Sit down together with your spouse (if applicable) for today’s quiet time. Recalling what Paul said in Ephesians 6:1-4 , what are some blessings that come to you by giving honor to your parents? What would happen to a society’s sense of respect toward authority if the fifth commandment was to be overlooked? Do you think this is happening in our society? Read Manoah’s  request to God in Judges 13:6-8. How important was it for Manoah to raise up his child right in the eyes of God? Do you think he was open to advice? How open to advice are you about raising up your child? How important is this in teaching your child about honor? How important is your relationship with your parents in teaching your child about honor? Write Proverbs 22:6 on an index card and memorize it.

 

FRIDAY

Read 1 Timothy 5:1-8. List the ways this passage teaches to give honor regarding the elderly and the young. How is your religion defined, according to verse 4? According to this verse, do you owe something to your parents? Is there something to be repaid? What about if your parents abused you or neglected you? Is this honor still something pleasing to God? How is honor defined in verse 8? What is being equaled to being worse than an unbeliever? Have you ever been in this position? How do you honor older members of your family? of your work environment? of the church? How can one honor a parent who has Alzheimer’s? Cancer? The relationship that you have with your parents ultimately reflects the relationship you have with your Heavenly Father. Read Hebrews 12:7-11. How can your relationship with your parents affect your relationship with your Father in Heaven? Write Proverbs 30:17 on an index card and memorize it. Write Proverbs 23:24-25 on an index card and memorize it.