5th Commandment Flashcards
Commandment Quote
I. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16)
2nd Table of the Law -Focus
i. This commandment marks the turning point in the law where the relationships change from those focused on God to those focused on other humans.
2nd Table of the Law - Issues
- This commandment also serves as a transition between responsibilities to God and responsibilities to others.
- Issues of authority and submission are the key element of this commandment. These issues are involved in relationships with God and others.
Theological Justification: Authority and Submission -Basis For
- As with the other commandments, this one is based on the fact that God has delivered his people from slavery in Egypt. As a result of that deliverance, there is an expectation of submission on the part of the Israelites.
Theological Justification: Authority and Submission - god and Man’s Status
- God’s authority is supreme.
- God has granted humans a special status in creation by placing us in authority over the rest of creation.
Theological Justification: Authority and Submission -Dichotomy
- In discussions about authority and submission, a false dichotomy is often drawn.
- Some make the argument that submission automatically implies inferiority.
- Therefore, submission is discouraged because it acknowledges inferiority to the “superior” authority.
Theological Justification: Authority and Submission - Structures and statements
- However, God has placed authority structures into creation to protect the order that he expresses in his own being.
- Superiority/Inferiority are statements of value.
- Authority/Submission are statements of structure/hierarchy
Theological Justification: Authority and Submission -What it is not
- Submission to authority is not blind obedience.
Theological Justification: Honor - Term
- The Hebrew term for “honor” in this text (כבד) carries the idea of Physical heaviness. Weighty, severe, important.
- Honor includes fear, respect, and obedience.
Results of honoring father and mother - Verses
- “. . . that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (Ex 20:12)
- “. . . that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.” (Deut 5:16)
Results of honoring father and mother - Similarities in verses
- In both versions of the command, length of days (long life) in the land is promised to those who honor their parents.
1. This cannot be viewed as an absolute promise but a general promise.
- This reflects the idea of the blessings involved in the covenant with Israel.
Results of honoring father and mother - Additional Promise
- The Deuteronomy version of this command also promises prosperity in the land.
Ethical Impact: Parents and Children - Honor - Practical Considerations
- The OT offers a number of practical applications to the command to honor one’s parents.
a. Children must not kill their parents (Ex 2115)
b. Children must not curse their parents (Ex 21:17; Lev 20:9)
c. Children must not steal from their parents (Prov 28:24)
d. Children must not treat their parents with scorn (Deut 27:16)
e. Children must not strike, insult, or behave disrespectfully toward their parents (Deut 27:16; Prov 30:17)
Ethical Impact: Parents and Children - Honor - Punishment
- Willful rebellion is condemned and punished by death (Deut 21:18–21)
a. Most extensive legislation regarding parent-child relationship
Ethical Impact: Parents and Children - Obedience - New Testament
- The NT speaks specifically about obedience and submission of children to their parents.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph 6:1–4)