Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"'Honour your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."
Text: Ephesians 6:2-3
THE EMPLOYMENT OF REASON
Paul did not “talk down” to his younger readers. He did not patronize them in any way. As he reasoned with his adult readers, so he now employed the same means as he talked to the “children”.
AN APPEAL TO THE DECALOGUE
Paul, as always, reasoned from the Scriptures. He consistently appealed to the Scriptures for both authority and insight.
1. The fifth commandment “Honour your father and mother”
All Christian children, well brought up, would be familiar with this law. This word came from none other than the Lord God Himself. Surely, every believing child would give this commandment careful consideration!
2. Obeying and honouring
These two words are closely tied together. One of the expressions of obedience would be to honour one’s parents. If children truly want to honour parents, they could do no better than to hear them out and obey their word of admonition.
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE
Paul was truly an astute Biblical scholar. As he cited the Decalogue, he noted the following:-
1. The commandment to honour parents was certainly not the first commandment
There were four other commandments, and all of them had to do with the Lord Himself personally.
2. The commandment to honour parents was in fact the fifth commandment
However, this commandment was the first one that contained a special promise. Paul knew the Pentateuch so well that he cited this attached promise from the Book of Deuteronomy rather than from Book of Exodus (in which the Decalogue was first written down).
Honour your father and your mother, as the LORD your God
has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that
it may be well with you in the land which the Lord Your God
is giving you.
DEUTERONOMY 5:16
3. Every encouragement to practise obedience in the Lord
Who would not want to live well, and to live long on earth? That would be such a blessing from the Lord! This is the promise of blessing from the Lord to children who truly honour and obey their parents!