The Bible has a good bit to say about respect in general, but it goes deeper when you venture into the realm of respect for parents. For example, if you look at a verse like Ephesians 6:1, which says “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”, it is evident that God is saying that it is necessary to respect, honor, and most importantly obey your parents.
This verse implies the fact that if you don’t, it is not right, therefore you aren’t just disobeying your parents, your also disrespecting God. This verse continues to say, ““Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise”. This is basically God saying that you need to honor your father and mother. Verse 3 says “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
This verse speaks the most, because its saying that if you may enjoy long life on earth if you honor your father and mother. On the flip side, what happens if you don't? This act would lead to a not-as-long life as you could have. This is God’s way of portraying how important it is that you act out these verses.
Exodus 20:12 also goes on to reiterate how important this is.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
This verse really speaks volumes when you consider the fact that whether you respect your parents or not, literally could change how you live your life, how long you live it, and your quality of life.
Hebrews 13:17 explains how submitting to authority is not always a bad thing.
“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”
“Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 19:3
Proverbs 1:8 reiterates the fact that you need to listen to the instruction of your father, and to not disregard the rules of your mother.
“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” – Proverbs 1:8
I think an article that Billy Graham wrote in 2013, really encompasses the main message that I'm trying to portray by writing this, Billy said “What God demands of all those who have been brought into this personal relationship with Him is simple and clear: We are to honor Him. And just as we are to honor the One who created us, so we are to honor those who were chosen to carry out God’s plan for our creation—our fathers and mothers!”
In Proverbs 6:20-23, God’s word tells us to listen to our fathers and to listen to our mothers. We are to listen to their instructions, and hold them in our hearts. In return, we receive guidance, protection, teaching and discipline, four ingredients no one can live without. This command is not a simple suggestion from God! It is a very serious exhortation to all of us.
This is especially true in our world today. We are living in a time when God is being put down, the acceptance of the idea of there being more than 2 genders is growing, marriage is being put down and children are being victimized. The family is being more and more separated, fathers are being demonized, mothers are being marginalized, roles are being disenfranchised and Gods order is being vandalized.
God’s command to honor our parents is consistent with his divine order. He knows what is best for us. He loves us. He made us. That is why he puts this command into action. Just as we will live forever because we honor the Lord our God, thats why we are given the promise of a fruitful and happy life when we honor our parents.
Just as believers give honor to God and receive joy in return, thats why children who give honor to their parents receive joy in return.
The importance of honoring parents makes sense when we think about what the parent to child relationship represents. The overall purpose for humanity! God created humans because he wants a family. He wants children who will become like him by developing his character. He wants to be a father to us. The way we obey, respect and glorify our physical parents says a lot about our willingness to honor God as our ultimate father.
Colossians 3:20 explains how the act of respecting and honoring your parents, brings pleasure and happiness to God.
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” – Colossians 3:20
God detests disrespect. To the point of calling for the death of those guilty of the worst examples of such an attitude toward parents. In fact, failing to honor parents is, as a violation of God’s spiritual law, sin, and the punishment for all sin is ultimately death.
The fact is, sin brings harm and pain not only to others but to its offenders as well. On the other hand, obedience results in blessing all around. The result of honoring our greatest parent, God the father, is eternal life in his family. It is the best gift that God can give us, and he wants to give it!
It’s fascinating to think of how helpless we are when we come into this world. We can’t feed ourselves, we can’t walk, we can’t clean ourselves and we can’t communicate. Even in the cases where our parents are unbelievers we owe a lot to them. We should be thankful for them and it’s going to be impossible to honor your parents unless you begin by being thankful for them.
The fact that you are still alive today is a pretty good reason to start with. Just go on the front page of any news site and chances are you will find some story of a parent killing their child, or abusing their children. Of course this is a much more different issue for those who were neglected and abused by their parents, but for the majority of us there’s a lot more to be thankful for than not.
There are those who have parents who have behaved horribly, abusing or abandoning their families. It seems impossible to extend respect to someone that is so horrible and undeserving. Maybe that parent is even in prison. We might think, “If they could have at least made an effort to do something redeemable, then some measure of decency might warrant a positive response.”
There are numerous roadblocks to honoring parents. While God commands us to honor our parents, He never expects us to imitate their ungodly behavior (Ezekiel 20:18-19). If a parent forces a child to act in a way that doesn’t follow God’s commands, the child must choose to obey God rather than their parent.
The rapid increase of divorce often forces children to honor one parent and to disrespect the other. Does this entitle us to practice bitterness, contempt, and negligence towards our parents?
Honoring parents is a incredibly important obligation that even Jesus practiced. Every year, Jesus accompanied his parents to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. After the Feast, Joseph and Mary left to return home by caravan. After a day’s journey, his parents realized Jesus was missing. It might seem that Jesus did not honor his parents wishes that he remain with the caravan. Yet we know Jesus never sinned.
Even his rebuke towards His mother was gentle and respectful. Jesus clearly made the distinction between his relationship with his Heavenly Father and His earthly parents. Yet Jesus “went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient (giving honor) to them,” even though He was committed to being in His Father’s house.
We never outgrow God’s command to honor our parents. Both our actions and attitudes should reveal our real motive for honoring our prents, to bring honor to God. When a child honors an unbelieving parent, the parent is honored by a believing and obedient child. The child trusts in the loving purposes of a Sovereign God. By caring for our elderly parents, we also follow Jesus’ example.
Honoring parents requires that we preserve their dignity as much as possible. Assisting them with household matters, errands, and health issues should never be considered burdensome, but an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus, honoring the One who comforts us.
God holds the parent and child relationship as special. God tells us in the ten commandments to obey and have respect for our parents. The Bible tells parents that they should respect their children and not provoke them.
The parent to child relationship is one of truth and honor. The same relationship that God desires of us as God’s children is the same relationship that parents should have with their children. Parents should be the source of wisdom and every good thing for their children.
God holds the parent to child relationship as special. In the Bible our relationship with God is continually compared with a parent to child relationship. God tells us in the ten commandments to obey and have respect for parents. Ephesians advises us to obey our parents in the Lord.
On the flip side, God expects all us to have respect for children. Parents are here to encourage children, and not provoke them. We are to respect children just as God expects us to respect all of mankind. Colossians 3:21 advises us to encourage children, and build them up.