May 12, 2002
Matthew 19:19
Honor your father and mother.
In Matthew 19:19 Jesus quotes from the Ten Commandments about several things, among which is the theme for today’s Pen Pulpit. He says to honor your mother. Jesus was speaking directly to a rich man, but this command extends to everyone.
To begin with a mother should be worthy of honor. In a sense every mother is worthy because she brought us into this world and, with some exceptions, mothers care for their children. They are instrumental in raising and teaching their children. Most children spend much more time with their mothers than with their fathers.
How do we honor mother?
First of all you place great value (which is what honor means) on mother as your earthly life giver. You value her as someone who teaches you the basic principles of life. If she is a believer you value her as the one who instructs you in the things of God (c.f. the context of II Timothy 1:5).
You value mother as the one you can come to in times of doubt and fear. Mother can’t take the place of God in your life but as a very wise Bible teacher once said, “To little ones growing up, their parents are God.”
We parents represent God to our little ones (what a responsibility)! We should display the love, kindness, and righteousness of God to our children.
God has established this truth as stated by Paul in Ephesians 6:1 ff.
Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the
first commandment with promise) so that it may be well with you and that you
may live long on the earth.
Proverbs is filled with instructions relating to parents and children.
Question: How does this relate to children who have left the parent’s home?
Honoring your mother and father still applies. Mother is still a source of good advice. We’ll apply this to fathers later in the year.
So children, regardless of your age, place the highest value upon your mother. God will bless you for it.
Love to you all,