Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“Honor thy father and thy mother.”
Exodus 20:12
Honoring one’s parents is a form of honoring God because it is giving honor to the ones who produced you. Luke begins the genealogy of Jesus with these words (Lk. 3:23-38), “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being -as was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli, who was the son of Matthat. . . .” Jesus could not honor his father, Joseph, without honoring his father’s father, Heli. God certainly did not mean that we are to honor our parents but not our grandparents. Luke concludes this lengthy genealogy with, “. . . the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.” True honor for parents, then, includes honoring God because He is the original parent of all men.
God puts it all together in these verses from Leviticus 19: “You shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths. I am Jehovah your God,” and “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God. I am Jehovah.”
Honoring one’s parents can be done, even if one’s parents refuse to honor God. One can be respectful and courteous, and to whatever extent possible, helpful to parents who do not love God, without ever displeasing our heavenly Father. What I tell fellow believers with ungodly parents is simply this: the best way to honor your parents is to bring honor to them by being holy in all your words and deeds. Even if the ungodly refuse to admit it, or even if they do not recognize it, they are honored by their children who honor God and keep His commandments.