Ephesians 6:2

Ephesians 6:2

Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

1. “Honour thy father and mother…”

a. This is the fifth Commandment and it was given to Moses to give to Israel in Exodus 20.

1). Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

b. The Commandments were repeated to Israel by Moses immediately before Israel was going to into the promised land.

1). Deuteronomy 5:16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

c. Honoring our parents does not just mean obeying them when we are young. The Commandment is a lifelong commitment including taking care of them when they are older. Jesus himself addressed this in his ministry, criticizing a Jewish tradition.

1). Matthew 15:1-6 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

c. Paul emphasized this to Timothy in his first letter to him.

1). 1 Timothy 5:3, 4 Honour widows that are widows indeed.

But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

d. In all of these Scriptural quotes, the “honour” is really referring to something financial, especially in Matthew and Timothy because he is referring to taking care of parents after they are older, when they can’t take care of themselves; which is also what it is referred to in at least two other Scriptural references.

1). Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

2). 1 Timothy 5:17, 18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

2. “…(which is the first commandment with promise.)”

a. This Commandment was the first that had a promise annexed to it. The promise that Paul quotes is a combination of both references in Exodus and Deuteronomy.