Honoring Parents

How should I honor and respect my parents?

God’s Response

Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father. Leviticus 19:3

You let them disregard their needy parents. And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. Mark 7:12-13

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. Ephesians 6:1

Why is God so strict about honoring parents? First, honoring others acknowledges the value God places on all people, regardless of how righteous or sinful they are. Second, your parents are the ones who gave you life, the most precious gift God gives us after salvation. Third, a parent/child relationship represents God’s parent/child relationship with us, his children. As we honor our parents, we demonstrate our respect and love for God. Even if you have abusive or neglectful parents, you can still honor them by acknowledging that they are created by God, and that they gave you the gift of life.

This Is Promising

If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:3