10 Commandments: #5

Exodus 20:12
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.


This commandment speaks about the way a household should be. It shows us that in a family, there are levels of authority. We see this in other places as well. Ephesians 5:22 for example speaks of the submission of wives to their husbands. This is something that is learned by girls when they are young. As they learn to honor and submit to their father, they are practicing they way they will treat their husband. Along with honor, children are also commanded to be obedient in Ephesians 6:1. Much like the honoring of a father is practice for unmarried girls for how they will later respect their husbands, the honor of parents is practice for how all children will one day respect the governmental authorities. Romans 13:1 tells us to submit to governing authorities and as a child learns to submit to his/her parents, it is important to note that in the same way, they will respect every other authority in their life. If they cannot honor they parents, they wont honor their employers. So while it is definitely not easy to submit, honor, obey, and respect your parents, it is so important. It is a learning process on so many different levels. And you will be so much happier throughout all of life if you learn to give them the honor they deserve.