By embracing the command to honour your mother and father as taught in the King James Bible, you align your life with a timeless standard of virtue and blessing.
As you live out your faith, remember that to honour your mother and father means to respect, obey, and care for them throughout your life. This command is not just a ritual observance—it is a pathway to a long, blessed life as promised by the scriptures. By upholding this sacred duty, you affirm your commitment to the principles God has set forth in His word.
You are encouraged to reflect on these scriptures daily, allowing their truth to shape your actions and relationships. In doing so, you will not only fulfil a divine command but also cultivate a spirit of gratitude and respect in your life.
The King James Bible (KJV) emphasizes honoring one’s parents as a moral and spiritual duty, rooted in the Ten Commandments and reinforced throughout Scripture. Below is a compilation of relevant teachings and examples:
1. The Commandment to Honor Parents
- Exodus 20:12
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
This is the fifth commandment, linking honoring parents to blessings and longevity. - Deuteronomy 5:16
“Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee…”
Reiterates the commandment, adding prosperity as a reward. - Leviticus 19:3
“Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father… I am the LORD your God.”
Links reverence for parents to fearing God.
2. Wisdom Literature on Parental Honor
- Proverbs 1:8-9
“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head…”
Obedience to parents brings wisdom and honor. - Proverbs 6:20-21
“My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart…”
Parental teachings are to be cherished. - Proverbs 23:22-25
“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old… Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.”
Calls for lifelong respect, especially in their old age. - Proverbs 30:17
“The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out…”
Warns of severe consequences for disrespect.
3. New Testament Teachings
- Matthew 15:4-6
Jesus rebukes those who neglect parents under the guise of religious devotion: “God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother… But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or mother… he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect.” - Mark 7:9-13
Repeats Jesus’ condemnation of using tradition to evade caring for parents. - Ephesians 6:1-3
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother… that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”
Reaffirms the commandment as part of Christian duty. - Colossians 3:20
“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”
Ties obedience to divine approval.
4. Examples of Honor and Dishonor
- Jesus Honors His Mother (John 19:26-27)
Even on the cross, Jesus entrusts Mary’s care to John: “Woman, behold thy son!… Behold thy mother!” - Ham’s Dishonor (Genesis 9:20-25)
Noah’s son Ham is cursed for disrespecting his father’s nakedness, while Shem and Japheth are blessed for covering him.
5. Consequences of Dishonoring Parents
- Exodus 21:17
“He that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.”
Highlights the gravity of dishonor under Mosaic Law. - Proverbs 20:20
“Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” - Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Prescribes stoning for a persistently rebellious son who disobeys parents.
6. Broader Principles
- 1 Timothy 5:4
“Let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.”
Encourages children to repay parental care, especially in old age. - Malachi 1:6
“A son honoureth his father… If I be a master, where is mine honour? saith the LORD…”
Draws a parallel between honoring parents and honoring God.
Key Themes
- Blessings: Obedience brings longevity, prosperity, and divine favor.
- Reverence: Honoring parents mirrors reverence for God.
- Lifelong Duty: Respect extends beyond childhood, including care in old age.
- Moral Law: The commandment is upheld in both Testaments as foundational to righteousness.
These teachings collectively stress that honoring parents is not merely cultural but a sacred duty with spiritual and practical implications.
When you examine the scriptures, you notice that the command to honor your mother and father is unconditional—it is given regardless of whether they have done good for you or not. You are instructed to show respect and obedience as part of your commitment to God’s law, not merely as a response to personal benefit. This emphasizes that honoring your parents is a fundamental duty established by divine authority, transcending any conditions of their behavior.