Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, May 04, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE DUTY OF CHILDREN TO PARENTS; THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:12-17

Text: Exodus 20:12

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.

Introduction: Tonight we’re going to remind ourselves of God’s way in the home, particularly with regard to the authority of parents over children.

Our country is in dire need of some men who will decide that they wear the breeches in their family, not their wives.

Men need to teach their wives that wives are commanded to honor and obey their husbands! Men also need to, with the help of their wives, teach their children to honor and obey their parents!

Nearly every family that has gotten away from God and left this church over the years has involved a man who couldn’t control his wife who either went into the world, or fussed, nagged, and complained about the church or someone in it; or a man and wife who couldn’t control their children and tell them what to do.

We have got to get back to old time convictions about the family! I hope this message on this commandment will help stir us up tonight to have a revival in the home.

I. THE PRIORITY OF THE COMMANDMENT

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.

A. The first among the statutes of behavior toward men

There are 10 commandments: 4 governing behavior toward God, and 6 toward men.

The first one dealing with our relationship to men is this one.

B. The foundation of a society – The home, especially the commandment on children toward their parents, is the foundation of civilized people.

Psalms 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Of a country

Of a community

Of a church

II. THE PRACTICE OF THE COMMANDMENT

How is it done? You won’t learn it from the heathen around you:

Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

In these perilous times, homes have fallen apart:

2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

A. Children should honor their parents in speech and stance

Leviticus 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

B. Children should honor their parents in submission

Ephesiams 6:1-3

C. Children should honor their parents in spirit

- Proverbs 30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

D. Children should honor their parents in support

Mark 7:10-13 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

One of the primary meanings of the word, “honour,” in the Bible such as the commandment to honour widows, elders, etc., has to do with financial support.

The Bible does not give government the responsibility to care for the elderly in a family; it gives that job to the FAMILY!

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

III. THE PARAMETERS OF THE COMMANDMENT

Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

2 Chronicles 15:16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.

A. Honor the Lord first

B. Heed God’s word first

C. Hold God closest to your heart

Illus. Visiting with relatives of another faith and attending church while there; ALWAYS go to a Bible-believing, fundamental, independent Baptist church.

IV. THE PROMISE OF THE COMMANDMENT

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

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.

A. The Lord’s blessings

“that it may go well with thee”

B. Longer lives

“and thou mayest live long on the earth”

Exceptions – The Lord Jesus Christ, Stephen – Exceptions prove the rule; they do not disprove the rule.

C. Lasting in the land

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.

Stability on a lot

Stability in land

Stability in life