1121. Honor Thy Father and Mother – Fifth Commandment

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.

The school was founded in 1927. The evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Senior's intent was to make a school where Christ would be the center of everything, so he established daily chapel services today. That tradition continues with fervent preaching from the University Chapel platform today on The Daily Platform were continuing a study series entitled. Oh how I love thy law, which is a study of the 10 Commandments. Today's message will be preached by seminary professor Dr. Jason Ormiston. He'll be speaking on the fifth commandment honoring your father and mother were morning and let me invite you take your Bible turn to Ephesians 6.

Ephesians 6 will look at verses one through four together when I misspeak on relates to something that I would say is the number one reason why. Apart from how did I do on my tasks or my quiz students come to my office become my office asking questions about when is it appropriate for me to choose to do something different than what my parents are suggesting to me when is it okay for me to say I don't agree with you, and I'm an adult now and I need to make an adult decision and so I'm sharing this with you out of a heart for compassion and a desire for you to see what the Scripture has to say about this topic and yet I'm also just a quick shout out to parents that may be watching and the parents that are in this building at the main want to know that I share this with great caution. I too am a parent I have two students here in the student body. So I'm sharing is not something that I'm looking to create division, but I don't think it's possible to preach on this topic without people having opinions one way or another. So not can win sides but I'm going to try to preach the Bible and that would be my goal. I want to make God happy, not you, and hopefully in that process we all grow happy in him. So Ephesians 6 is that their key passage to look at.

Notice what it says children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with me, that thou Mas live long on the earth. The fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Understanding this passage within its broader context in Ephesians we have a transition that happens Ephesians.

The first three chapters are really rich theological truth when you get in the chapter before it starts to get really practical with the theology we just learned that many times up all rights he frequently does that in his writings, and so he starts with relationships in chapter 4.communication given the chapter 5 he introduces us to the thought of this idea of being imitators of Christ in our relationship person starts out with wives, submit to your husbands and then it says husbands love your wives make transitions in the chapter 6 right here. We have children, obey your parents in verse five.

This is the call for parents to love your children, and if you work your way down into verse five.

You see in verse six. It gives a reference to Masters in action.

Certain servants, obey or submit your masters, and in verse nine Masters, love your servant so that employer employee relationship so were looking at a context of how does the gospel apply to relationships and that is key as we understand this passage. You'll notice in verses two through three. There's a quote made about the fifth commandment is fifth commandment is found in two places in the Old Testament.

In particular, Exodus 20 verse 12 and Deuteronomy 516. Notice the difference between these two places that we find it is UCI a repetition and in Deuteronomy 516, as the Lord thy God hath commanded referring to you very heard this, but this is the second giving of log Deuteronomy to talk to. Again, this is really important. This is the beginning of the Commandments that relate to our relationship to love our neighbor as ourselves. The first floor we looked at already rent relate to our love for God and so we learn something really really important. This is a significant commandment as it relates to how we function in society and how we function within our families and asked how we function in life. So, let's consider this together as we look Matthew five and I met 254 and in Mark 710 of the other places you can find this in the Bible and the New Testament. That context is talking about Jesus responding to the scribes and Pharisees who manipulate the law and say I don't have to help my parents when they get old. I minute dedicate my goods to God, which means I have access to them. My parents won't.

And this is a violation of the fifth commandment, but how I relate to my parents properly. I'm telling you that if you're sitting here and you really get engaged today for the brief time we have been chapel.

No doubt you have a story or know someone that has a story.

It's a good one. It's a story about how you want to date someone and that someone wants to go to the mission field in your parents don't want to go to the mission field, and so they want you to instead choose someone who will make money. Can I describe Mary that God will or can I decision I not listen to my parents if their unbelievers write the commandment only applies to believers correct and in the answer to that is what you listen, every one of us has a scenario to bring to the text, and I'm not trying to answer all of your scenarios, but to give you principles which you can build on is a basic overview. I want us to look briefly at these first three because I think you're familiar with them. A definition for obedience, motivation behind obedience here to see this in Ephesians 6 the foundation of honor is obedience. And that's a really key transition for us to understand what leading us to this last month when I graduate from obedience to honor when it comes to my relationship with my parents at Sec. first one, the definition of obedience. Look at Ephesians 61 children, obey your parents and we just simply unpack the truth we find that children as a definition and offspring of human parents who is dependent upon them for daily sustenance your child. If you're in a family whether through adoption or through birth and you depend upon your parents to supply your regular needs. I minute suggest you that it relates to the fact that you could be living in a different state like here at Bob Jones University in your from another state or another country you're still depending upon your parents for your sustenance. I've heard it said before, if your address your home address is the same as your parents. You fit in this category. Now notice that it says your parents. This is important. You are not responsible to obey my parents.

And I'm not responsible to obey your parents. It says you are responsible to obey your parents so we keep it really focused and locked-in. That's what Paul intended, but obey is doing what you're told to do when you're told to do it with the right heart attitude. I don't think that everything I'm saying at this point is revolutionary to you.

Perhaps it is but have you heard this definition before do what you're told when you're told, with the right heart attitude. It's easy to do what you're told and to miss those other two as we want to pack them all together to understand a bit obedience, which is submitting to the instruction that she received the wise is so important.

Well, if we don't follow the principles found in Ephesians chapter 6 we end up finding chaos some years ago, officials at Kruger National Park in game reserve in South Africa were faced with the growing elephant problem. The population of African elephants once endangered had grown larger than the park could sustain some measures had to be taken within the ranks. A plan was devised to relocate some of the elephants to other African game reserves being enormous creatures.

Elephants are not easily transported serious problems with the transportation to a decision was made that they would transport only the female elephants and the juvenile elephants so they… Problem solved. The park is thinned out were good to go and they relocated them to win Dennis Berg national Park but then something started to happen in Flensburg national Park in South Africa. There was this random killing of white rhinos which went white rhinos are endangered species and so forth. They thought first. All this is got to be poachers, but they found the task still in place and they found them trampled and pierced through something so they installed cameras just like we do here at chapel and they decided to figure out who is creating the problem and the problem was identified as these juvenile elephants they were going around beating up and killing white rhinos and see what the solution was the solution was they started to say we had killed the most aggressive ones in an animal act activist said that's not right. We created the problem we got to solve the solution so they figure out a way to have the large male bull elephants print into this part and as soon as they were relocated. All of a sudden the problem stopped is in God's economy they're supposed to be structure we actually need the structure of those that are older and more mature than we are to help guide us so that we don't go out of control.

Many studies have been done as it relates to the need for mentorship need for connection and I just want you to understand that this commandment, children obey your parents is actually a blessing from God because he loves you may want to follow him motivation and obedience is found in this first verse you're supposed to obey them in the Lord, for this is right. So to help you unpack this thought if it's in the Lord. That means it's according to the Lord's plan is principles his good designs for you so if your parents ask you to do something that is outside of God's law. God's word and you're not obligated to obey them.

It's just that simple. But that's a pretty extreme example, is it not mean it has to be up to know the Bible well enough to know they're asking you to do something that is contrary to the word of God.

If it comes to whether or not you marry someone or you moved to a certain location or what you decide to do for your major. These are not watershed issues. These are not issues that you say will that's on the biblical for them to tell me that they are entitled to a preference.

Why, because this is right is really so I love how Paul displays up. This is just the right thing to do. It is righteous. It is good for you. It is healthy for you to obey your parents.

I know some of you are probably Sambo in my really a child.

You might think I'm a child on child crazy you get to that, but part of our society is telling authority. Get out of my face. I'm ready to make my own decisions in what God says. He says I have created an economy for your good.

It is right for you. It is good for you.

It's healthy for there to be structure in a marriage, you have the husband leading in loving and the wife submitting and supporting it's healthy in a family relationship to have the parents loving and leaving the children and the children submitting and following. It's healthy in a work relationship to the boss actually log on his employees and the employees to submit to what they're being told as long as it's in the Lord and this is the right thing.

It's a good thing but notice not only that we have the foundation of obedience is on or not.

Before I go too fast that 102,000.just bring up something that's really encouraging our greatest example of submission is found in none other than Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ both submitted to his earthly father.

We have that in Luke 251 and he submitted to his heavenly father. In Matthew 26, 39, his earthly father when he was out describing the law to those that were there listening to him as he is reading it his heavenly father in Gethsemane. He says not my will but your will be done. So our goal here is to become more like Christ. We look to Christ.

He understands that even the Trinity is set up in God's plan for God the father sending God the son and God the son, saying when I go were sending out the Holy Spirit. It all works that are equal in essence, but different in economy is.

This is a good thing to its foundation foundation of obedience is on what I'm saying here is that you cannot have obedience without honor. You have to have honor in order to understand obedience doubt it is true for little kids they don't really get the honor thing they want what they want and they throw tantrums and fits and you have to lovingly direct them towards what is right. This is not getting IRIS steam you dad. I think you the best thing that ever happened. There's like I don't want to get discipline and ultimately little kids need to learn that obedience thing, but to really get this obedience is the foundation for honor and would see this honor thy father and thy mother. Let's unpack honor our means being respectful in your words, actions, and inward attitudes and esteem for someone's and this is key.

Someone's not person but position their God ordained position so it's not whether or not you think you have good parents who gave you those parents. I have news for you God.

He is sovereign is in charge, he assigned you the parents that you have, regardless of how you got them.

You have been meaning if you're adopted if you were your parents.

The Lord took them home and you became a foster child and you had many sets of parents that this get super complicated but ultimately you're supposed to esteem the position of that person noticed these words broken down in the Torah.

In Leviticus 29 you're not supposed to curse your parents.

In fact, if you did this you would die. Now this is not the way it is today.

Obviously, as many of us have said things we regret to her parents and were still here. But in God's economy of theocracy when he was ruling as the King judge during the Old Testament time. During the old covenant were now under the new covenant during the old covenant if you cursed your parents, you are liable to be killed.

Notice it says that Ludacris 29th in Exodus 2117 also in your actions. It says in Exodus 2115 he that smites his father or his mother shall be surely put to death and then in your attitudes.

Mark 762 13 I have listed here verse six which talks about their heart not being in tune with God's heart in the context there is that very thing I alluded to that, the scribes and Pharisees were acting out in actions. There are exercises in words they were saying. I respect my parents. I am keeping that fifth commandment and deeds and actions. They weren't there were setting apart their stuff for themselves and saying. Actually it's core Bain. It's part for God are you doing in these categories are you esteeming your parents in your words with your words, while you talk to them. Are you esteeming them when it comes to this idea of not ever coming close to threatening them physically were in a home where I'm watching my 14-year-old son this year. Go from 6 foot one almost a 6 foot five minute period of light four months. Yet he's bigger than my wife. He sees really really skinny. I was a standard and the like that when you it is really really skinny so she could probably still take him but if she starts to threaten her at all and I am all over that don't even play that game in this house that I'm not gonna be them but it's so inappropriate for him to act that way and I can rejoices and he's never hit her is never gone after her like that, but had never done that. Have you ever tried to bully your mom and dad that sin that's wrong.

Have you ever talked poorly about your parents still get there so clueless. Mom and dad do whatever I wanted to thank you hang up that sin that's wrong. You need to repent of that you talk to you to say I'm wrong, I might sin you forgive me I'm not perfect. You know that I know that and I never got the same where your attitude is just totally flippant, even to the level of your acting nice to them but you're actually manipulating them so easy to manipulate people's but God sees right through the motivation honor is God set it. I mean I could say that settles it is not. I've heard it before God set. I believe that settles it hears what God said it, God has your best interest in mind if you go back to the Deuteronomy passage. It states very clearly that God said it, so that's it. Notice honoring your father mother which is the first commandment with promise I will have a ton of time to break this down but I want to help you observe something encourage you to study something.

This is actually not the first commandment of the 10 Commandments that has a promise connected to the first commandment that has a promise connected to it is actually the third commandment about not making graven images that talks about blessings to your generations to them what is Paul referring to.

He says it's the first commandment with promise.

Either he's referring to. It's the first of the six that relate to our relationship to our neighbor or it is the one in which all others are built upon.

If we don't honor our parents were not the care that they say no other God before me know graven images. I will not take the name Lord my God in vain.

I will actually care and remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. If not honoring them or not keeping it that way, but we do see that it is God's plan for your serenity.

I mean that as a simple way of saying your peace. It is connected to a promise it's also connected to your success that it may be well with me but this is a simple thing living within God's boundaries is actually you will find great freedom.

We frequently want to be the person that's testing the boundaries. How about enjoying the boundaries that God is given you through the boundaries your parents are placed upon you and the dominoes live long upon the earth. I can't say it any other way. But then to say that bottom line is that you won't die according the Old Testament, but you live because they won't normally capital punishment and this is found in many places in the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 2118 through 21 says this is what you're supposed to do if your son is rebellious to you is stubborn as a drunkard or a glutton supposed to take him out of the city with all the men in Stoneham.

Dykes is also an allusion here to picture here.

In context, that you may live long upon the earth.

In the Old Testament we have reference to upon this land and it's a promise connected to God's gift of the promised land in Ezekiel were instructed that Ezekiel 22 seven Ezekiel 2215 their choice to dishonor their parents is one of the reasons there are many that they were taken into captivity to God saying we just live underneath my role because I have a way that is encouraging you toward serenity, success, and even here, survival about the graduation from obedience to honor no I love versus like first Corinthians 1311 that says when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child I thought as a child but when I became a man I understood. I put away childish things. So God does have in his economy a plan for you to go from child in transition to adult. The challenge that we have is that in our society today where really confused on this like we don't have anything built in there to transition us in the Jewish culture its bar mitzvah bat mitzvah happening at age 13 or 1213 convoy 12 for the girl.

If you look at different cultural transitions. You find some really really interesting ones I found one from the Brazilian Amazon culture. They mark the coming of age with the ceremony.

When the boys turned toward 13 men in the village around and they find these bullet ants and they sedate them with herbal juice in smoke and the collective equipment gloves so the stingers are pointed out in the. The boys have to put their hands in there for 10 minute segments in these ants wake up in the six and they start stinging these boys for 10 minutes meant to do the sometimes 20 times and they're not supposed to share any emotion or cry to show that there a man what happens in American culture well were confused that you can get your license at age 16.

That's only provisional can't drive at night return 18 you can vote when you turn 21-year-old legal drinking age and that is not on encourage you to do, but it's legal drinking age and you can even rent the car under age 25, when I become an adult I know it's when I say so wrong that's not so check this out G fathers. I think the onus falls on the dance I get falls on guys like me that had kids, six of them that I need to figure out how to apply this verse which says provoke not your children to wrath. It means don't poke at them and treat them like little kids that cannot make decisions in their insight within them. This desire for rebellion, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the war.

This idea of nurture here is the idea of discipline and training that you give to one who is in process of growing admonition is the word that we get new aesthetic counseling from its this concept of I'm going to help you transition and know what the Bible says about productive Christian living.

So here's my shot out to the parents is a form of application. I think that parents we need to and those of US future parents discuss a rite of passage like talk with your kids about when did you become when you become go from a child to an adult and what is that look like because the goal here is not to keep your kids with you as long as you possibly can. You have your kids for a short period of time and actually you should be motivated to follow the principle of Psalm 127, which is shoot them out your bow into the world that is fallen and in need of the gospel, but we are so eager to get all six kids out of her house.

I would tell him that all the time to begin using my son. He was so II didn't understand. You got that message so clearly it wasn't until a year ago, I confirmed this with and he's 14th. It wasn't until a year ago that he understood that when he turns 18.

He doesn't have to leave he was absurd that I got figure out what I wanted to go for a living. Click du jour 13 just chill out going. 18 is coming dead, but no no you Jeff to Bob Jones but then then you encourage them to college addicts established to discuss this right and celebrate the transition with your friends and family summer here to tell you when that happens I'm here to tell you that you should come up with something we have developed a family mission statement and I would encourage you to think about that the Ormiston family mission statement notes in the center that the goal is striving to become spiritually mature physically fit, emotionally stable.

The goal is adults who desire to love God and serve others.

That's the goal. Adulthood. Okay, now how about parents that like to take passages in the Old Testament and say this is what it says it prescribes that I need to tell you, stop, and I want to get this parents and those of you future parents don't use descriptive passages prescriptive weight also because it's in the Old Testament written in the Bible that means you have to do this. Understand the exegetes cheer which is context context PA context, context matters, we got applied appropriately and students I leave you with these thoughts unless the instructions violate Scripture you need to obey your parents and when we know a transition is happening when I studied this out. I considered a very clear one is when you establish your own family and you get married.

See that's in Genesis 2 rights as a husband needs to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife and the two shall be one flesh.

So you're saying okay so that's cool. All I need to do is get married what notes he the process of actually getting married. It is supposed to be demonstrated over a period of time that you're mature enough to handle that it's not your loophole.

The Bible is not a book of law that we need to know well enough so we can manipulate what it says to benefit our desires. It's God's love letter to us to guide us towards him and noticed that there's a call in numbers 30 where it helps us understand that if wife makes a vow. The husband can say were not keeping that the daughter makes a vow in the dad, here's about note not keeping up with.

He says nothing, and you have to keep that it seems to imply that there is authority in the home, so I suggest to you that you get to a point where you can establish your own home. You've got a play into that this idea of singleness.

First Corinthians 7, eight and 17 there's a gifting there's a calling to be single and so we need to consider that always show honor your parents.

The word in Hebrew means waiting you need to give more weight to what your parents said you always than you do your peers really do. And then I conclude with this thought. Honor is linked with humility. If you follow through proper follow through Jesus in Philippians 2, he humbled himself and became a man, so that we could know eternal life. I call you to consider these principles to yield yourself to what the Bible says God help us follow you with great joy and honor and obey our parents. In Jesus name. Payment you've been listening to a sermon preached at Bob Jones University by Dr. Jason Ormiston, which is part of the study series about the 10 Commandments. Join us again tomorrow as we continue this series here on The Daily Platform