The honoring of mother and father precedes, is necessary for and included in realizing one’s fullest potential in Christ.
For this presentation we are looking at each of us as the child of our mother and father.
Although you may or may not be a mother or father, you are definitely the child of your mother and father.
What happens in my heart and through my hands in my relationship with my mother?
First and foremost, honor is to be in my heart and lived out through my hands to my mother.
- Honor is a decision and not a response.
- Honor is truthful and not fake.
- Honor is system-wide and not compartmentalized.
Let us consider honor through the lens of Deuteronomy 5:6-22.
We know, based upon Deuteronomy 5:22, God wrote the Ten Commandments on two tablets.
Then he wrote them on two stone tablets and gave them to me. Deuteronomy 5:22
We don’t know which directives were on which tablet, but almost everyone agrees that on the first tablet God wrote guidance for relationship with Him and on the second tablet He wrote guidance for people’s relationship with each other.
In some ways all ten commandments are about honor.
Most students of the Bible see the Ten Commandments written as follows:
| Table One | Table Two |
| Honor God – No other gods before Him | Honor your father and mother |
| Do not make graven images and worship them | Do not murder |
| Do not take the Lord’s name in vain | Do not commit adultery |
| Remember the sabbath and keep it holy | Do not steal |
| Do not bear false witness | |
| Do not covet |
The Hebrew word God selected for honor in Deuteronomy 5 carries the meaning of recognizing and giving proper weightiness.
Table One teaches us to recognize and give proper weightiness to God.
Table Two teaches us to recognize and give proper weightiness to God by recognizing and giving proper weightiness to mother and father.
Upon what authority do we make the opening claim of today’s message?
“The honoring of mother and father precedes, is necessary for and included in realizing one’s fullest potential in Christ.”
The fifth commandment makes it very clear that life being lengthy and going well is directly connected to honoring father and mother.
16 “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16
This commandment might be stated a different way. “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, or your days may be shortened, and it may not go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Historically it seems the opposite of honor is not dis-honor, but shame.
This commandment might now be stated in even another way, “Shame your father and mother, in opposition to what the Lord your God commanded you, and your days will be shortened and it will not go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
With none of us being exempt from the shameful, we equally stand in shame before God.
The cross was the most shameful death in the history of the world. Crosses weren’t designed primarily to kill. Crosses were intentionally prepared to bring great humiliation and shame to the crucified.
Jesus died shamefully on Calvary’s cross.
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
Good News Alert! Good News Alert! Good News Alert!
There never was, is or will be something shameful about Jesus. He is shameless and perfect in every way.
Jesus took my shame and destroyed it on the cross.
Jesus took my shame and gave me His honor on the cross.
With my shame gone and His honor now mine, I am free to honor every human being by recognizing and giving them proper weightiness.
My Dearest Mother,
You are designed by God. I honor you.
You were created by God. I honor you.
You gave me life. I honor you.
Mom, I honor you.
According to Psalm 8: 4b-5 you are created by God and in His image and He “crowned you with glory and honor.”
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings[b]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
MCA Church LIFE GROUP Homework
Listen – My Story
- Do you have a favorite memory of your mother that sharing with the group today will honor her?
- What is your favorite thing you have done to honor your mother?
Learn – Digging Deeper
- Please read Deuteronomy 5:6-22. Which of the first four commandments are growth areas for you, MCA Church and our nation? Which commandment is the easiest for you to obey consistently?
- How important do you see these commandments for your personal honoring of God?
- Which of the final six commandments are growth areas for you, MCA Church and our nation?
- How important do you see these commandments for your personal honoring of your mother and father?
- What are your favorite ways you honor God?
Lift – Prayer
- How would you like your Life Group to pray for you today?
- Is there someone you have difficulty honoring? Please pray for God’s grace to help you grow.
- Are you still carrying shame that Jesus took from you long ago? Pray to experience His honor.
- Please pray for your mother.
Life – Taking it Home
- What is the Holy Spirit asking you to add, delete or recalibrate in your life?
- Is there something you should do ASAP to honor your mother?