Published by The most well known of all these responsibilities in found in the fourth commandment which states we are to honor our father and mother. Along with honor comes respect for our parents. Although the responsibility to obey our parents wishes ends once we leave the home, we still are required to offer them a certain respect. This respect comes from gratitude to those who brought us into this world.
The Fourth Commandment
The fourth commandment, found in Ex 20:12 and Deut. 5:16, tells us we are to honor our father and mother. It is the first commandment to come with a promise which states if you do honor your father and mother then you will live long on earth. This commandment can be extended out to include the relationship between employees and employers, students and teachers, and even between citizens and their country. This commandment uses the universal explanation of mother and father, yet we will be focusing just on the relationship between the parent and the child.
Respect for Father and Mother
We owe our parents gratitude because without them we would not have life. They are the reason we are in the world and showing gratitude for being us into the world is the responsibility of the child. Jesus recalls this duty of gratitude in Mark 7:1-12 as well as Sir 3:2-6 and 3:12-13, and 16. Children show respect for their parents by obeying the rules of the household is way to show respect for our parents. Other ways include anticipating wishes, willingly seek advice, and accept their just admonitions. These acts may stop upon emancipation, yet we should still continue to respect our parents.
Respect from Older Children
As some acts we show our parents, such as obeying, come to an end upon us leaving the home. Respect for our parents still continues on. As older, or grown children, we still have requirements to honor our parents as they are still the reason we are here in the first place. This duty of gratitude means we are to give moral and material support in old age, illness, loneliness, and times of distress. By showing support to our parents during these trying time, we are also showing our parents respect for being our parents. as our parents cared for us and shown us respect as we were growing up, we are required and have a responsibility to show the same gratitude back towards our parents.
As the fourth commandments tells us we are to honor our father and mother, showing respect and obeying are parents are two ways to be able to follow the fourth commandment. Obeying our parents shall be extended throughout the time we are living with our parents, but may stop once we have moved out. Respecting our parents doesn’t end once we leave the house, but continues through certain deeds all the way through our lives. From respecting and obeying our parents while we are in the house to respecting and offering support once we are out of the house bring harmony to the household, not just during the time we are there but long after. This light and warmth is not just felt in the immediate house but into other houses such as our grandparents house, found in Proverb 17:6. Yet we have to remember, children are not born with respect automatically built into their system, but must be taught to respect their family members, especially their parents.
