THE TEN COMMANDMENTS – Exodus 20: 1 -17

And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who bought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage”.

“You shall have no other gods before Me”

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image”

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”

“Honour your father and your mother”

“You shall not murder”

“You shall not commit adultery”

“You shall not steal”

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour”

“You shall not covet”

God’s law still reflects His holy will and standard for human conduct.

An examination of the Ten Commandments teaches us that are ten features of love.

5. “Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

The word ‘honour’ in this verse speaks to us of action. It refers to the heart attitude and motive behind children’s behavior.

The key to social stability in any generation is the reverence and respect given to parents and their authority by their children.

Within the borders of Israel God expected the Israelites never to tolerate juvenile delinquency and there were severe consequences for those who disrespected their parents and their authority.

When God gave His Ten Commandments, this is the first law governing human relationships. It is the only command of the 10 that relates to the family, because this command alone secures the family’s fulfilment.

The promise‘that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you’, primarily related to life in the Promised Land for the Israelites as a nation.

But the Apostle Paul individualised this national promise when he applied this truth to believers and their families in the New Testament.

Ephesians 6: 1 – 3 says “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honour your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long upon the earth.”

Children are to submit to their parents, first and foremost for the Lord’s sake ‘for this is right.’

Also God has graciously added the promise of special blessing for those who are obedient to this command.

By John Denman

M.E. Head ( Photographer)