{"id":5430,"date":"2013-02-07T01:00:52","date_gmt":"2013-02-07T09:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/?p=5430"},"modified":"2013-03-06T13:15:32","modified_gmt":"2013-03-06T21:15:32","slug":"the-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/07\/the-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment\/","title":{"rendered":"The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>&#8220;Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you&#8221; <\/em>(Exodus 20:12).<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-5436 alignleft\" title=\"5thComm\" src=\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/5thComm-1024x723.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"403\" height=\"284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/5thComm-1024x723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/5thComm-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/5thComm-900x635.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Honor your parents. <\/strong>The first four of the Ten Commandments address our <em>duty to God<\/em>. The last six outline our <em>duty to man<\/em>. The first relationship considered is the <em>parent-child relationship<\/em>, which in principle also applies to any other authority relationships. This is the first commandment that carries a promise with it. Honor your parents so that you will live long &#8220;in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This commandment should be near and dear to our hearts as parents. Our children will not be blessed unless they learn to honor and submit to God. One of the primary ways they submit to Him is by obeying their parents, God&#8217;s delegated authorities in their lives.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><strong>What does it look like when a child is honoring his parents?<\/strong> Let&#8217;s consider a sampling of practical, where-the-rubber-meets-the-road ways a child can honor his parents (and the other authorities in his life):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Obey and show respect, even when his parents make mistakes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Listen carefully to what they say to him<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Answer his parents respectfully and acknowledge that he has heard them <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Look at parents when conversing with them <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Speak politely <\/span><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\">about<\/em><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> them<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Speak politely <\/span><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\">to<\/em><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"> them<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Think God-honoring thoughts about them<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Show common courtesies such as opening the door for them, standing when they enter the room, seating his mother, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Give up own desires and comfort in order to serve and help his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Listen to and heed their counsel<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Thank his parents for the different things they do for him<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">See, admire, and imitate their strengths<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Pray for his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Willingly obey their godly commands<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Do what his parents would want, even when he is not with them<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Respect his parents&#8217; privacy<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Keep his word to his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Complete the tasks his parents give him to do<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Prove his willingness to obey before asking permission to appeal to his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Spend time with his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Seek to please his parents with his words and actions<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Honor their wishes regarding dress, music, hairstyle, etc. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Pray for them<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Respond humbly to correction<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Taking care of the things his parents have provided for him<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>A child is disobeying God&#8217;s command to honor his parents when he:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Refuses to make eye contact<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Rolls his eyes in response to parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Glares at his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Mumbles when speaking to parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Doesn&#8217;t talk to or withdraws from his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Interrupts when his parents are speaking to him or others<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Talks back or argues with his parents&#8217; decisions<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Throws a tantrum<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Questions his parents&#8217; motives<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Mocks or makes fun of his parents <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Speaks behind his parents&#8217; backs<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Criticizes or sets himself up as his parents&#8217; judge<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Challenges his parents&#8217; decision in the presence of others<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Speaks sarcastically to his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Purposely does what he knows his parents do not want him to do<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Chooses to wait until he feels like obeying instead obeying immediately<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Withholds important information from his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Resists their leadership<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Ignores his parents<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Takes offense when corrected<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Physically resists discipline<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Neglects to fulfill his assigned responsibilities<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Disobeys his parents when they are not present<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Deceives his parents<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Outwardly complies with parents&#8217; wishes while inwardly rebelling against them<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Obedience doesn&#8217;t come naturally; it requires us to acknowledge that <strong>we are not in charge of our lives<\/strong>, and that&#8217;s a hard pill to swallow, even (or <em>especially<\/em>)\u00a0for a two-year-old. He will fail to obey many, many times, and we will have many, many opportunities to help him see <strong>how much he needs Jesus<\/strong>. He can&#8217;t fully obey God&#8217;s law. He needs Jesus to pay the punishment for his disobedience. He needs to &#8220;put on&#8221; Christ, and then God will see His Son&#8217;s righteousness when He looks at him. He needs the Holy Spirit who will renew and empower him to do what he\u00a0<em>cannot <\/em>do in his own strength.<\/p>\n<p>We mustn&#8217;t forget to tell them this.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Note:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/\">Doorposts<\/a> has produced several products that might help you in teaching the Fifth Commandment to your children:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/details.aspx?id=81\">Honor Your Father and Mother<\/a> <\/em><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">is a coloring and teaching book for young children, which explores in picture form, the many ways they can obey this commandment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/details.aspx?id=73\">For This Is Right<\/a> <\/em><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">expands for older children the meaning of the Fifth Commandment, with the help of the <\/span><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Westminster Larger Catechism.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><em style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/details.aspx?id=10\">A Checklist for Parents<\/a> <\/em><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">is a simple tool with 26 questions to help parents examine themselves in the light of God&#8217;s Word. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first and last books are available digitally as well as in print.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-left rtsocial-icon\"><div class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon \"> <div class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon-button\"><a title=\"Share: The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\" class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doorposts.com%2Fblog%2F2013%2F02%2F07%2Fthe-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment%2F\" target= \"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon\"> <div class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon-button\"><a title=\"Tweet: The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\" class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon-link\" href= \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=The%20Law%20as%20a%20Door%20to%20the%20Gospel%3A%20The%20Fifth%20Commandment&via=@doorposts&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doorposts.com%2Fblog%2F2013%2F02%2F07%2Fthe-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment%2F\" target= \"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon\"> <div class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon-button\"><a class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon-link\" href= \"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/07\/the-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment\/&media=https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/rtsocial\/images\/default-pinterest.png&description=The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\" target= \"_blank\" title=\"Pin: The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"perma-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/07\/the-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment\/\" title=\"The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\"><\/a><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"rts_id\" class=\"rts_id\" value=\"5430\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"rts_media_nonce\" name=\"rts_media_nonce\" value=\"644d21b397\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5430\" \/><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you&#8221; (Exodus 20:12). Honor your parents. The first four of the Ten Commandments address our duty to God. The last six outline our duty to man. The first relationship considered is the parent-child relationship, which in principle also applies to any other authority relationships. This is the first [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtsocial-container rtsocial-container-align-left rtsocial-icon\"><div class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon \"> <div class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon-button\"><a title=\"Share: The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\" class=\"rtsocial-fb-icon-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doorposts.com%2Fblog%2F2013%2F02%2F07%2Fthe-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment%2F\" target= \"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon\"> <div class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon-button\"><a title=\"Tweet: The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\" class=\"rtsocial-twitter-icon-link\" href= \"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=The%20Law%20as%20a%20Door%20to%20the%20Gospel%3A%20The%20Fifth%20Commandment&via=@doorposts&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.doorposts.com%2Fblog%2F2013%2F02%2F07%2Fthe-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment%2F\" target= \"_blank\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon\"> <div class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon-button\"><a class=\"rtsocial-pinterest-icon-link\" href= \"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/07\/the-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment\/&media=https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/rtsocial\/images\/default-pinterest.png&description=The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\" target= \"_blank\" title=\"Pin: The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\"><\/a><\/div><\/div><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"perma-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/07\/the-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment\/\" title=\"The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\"><\/a><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"rts_id\" class=\"rts_id\" value=\"5430\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"rts_media_nonce\" name=\"rts_media_nonce\" value=\"644d21b397\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5430\" \/><\/div><a role=\"link\" class=\"rtp-readmore\" title=\"Read more on The Law as a Door to the Gospel: The Fifth Commandment\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/07\/the-law-as-a-door-to-the-gospel-the-fifth-commandment\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More \u2192<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[9,26,27,8,7,16],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5430"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5430"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5443,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5430\/revisions\/5443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5430"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doorposts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}