Home Group Study

Sermon Date: 1 June 2018

Text: Exodus 20:12

Opening Discussion: Share some of the funny and strange things you or your parents have done while raising children.

Observation

What does God’s word say?

As you observe what God’s word says, answer the following questions from the text(s):

• What is the predominant proper noun used in Exodus 20:1-19? (A noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or quality).

• The word “honour” is the only imperative used in Exodus 20:12. Turn to 1 Samuel 2:27-31, and identify how many times the word “honour” is used in these verses, and explain the meaning of the word in this context.

Read:  Proverbs 6:20-23

What are your observations? If we hold to our parents instructions in our hearts and tie them around our necks, what are some of the benefits we can expect to receive?

Meaning

What does God’s word mean?

Honouring your father and mother is being respectful in word and action and having an inward attitude of esteem for their position. God calls us to honour them as the outflow of honouring him. He calls us to be people who respect his sovereignty by respecting the parents he saw fit to give us.

Honour is not dependant on whether your parents have earned it or not, or if they have given you something good that makes you grateful. Honour is not only for merit but also for rank. For example, some Americans may disagree with their President’s decisions, but they should still respect his position as leader of their country. Similarly, children of all ages should honour their parents, regardless of whether or not their parents “deserve” honour.

 Read:  Ephesians 6:1-3

What are your observations? What are some ways that children can obey their parents?

Application

How must I change?

•  Is there a Truth to be believed?

Jesus said this about the Pharisees form of honour in Mark 7:6  “And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me..”Are there different forms of honour? Discuss some of the ways that do and do not bring glory to God.                                 

•  Is there an Attitude to be fostered?

How does not obeying the first 4 commandments impact on our ability to obey the 5^th commandment?

•  Is there a Behavior to be changed?

What about people who were adopted and never knew their birth parents? What about people who had difficult or absent or abusive parents? What about people whose parents behaved in utterly dishonorable ways? Does this debt of honor extend even to them? Is there a difference between honour and obedience?

•  For a definitive answer please click on this link and read the article by Tim Challies: https://www.challies.com/articles/the-commandment-we-forgot-honor-when-honor-is-hard/

Closing Prayer: For strength and discernment so we don’t slip into a definition of honor so narrow as to be meaningless. For grace to be able to honour our parents properly, through all the challenges and struggles for His glory and our Joy.

As individuals convinced of the need to honor our parents, we need to meditate on Deuteronomy 5:16, Romans 13:1-7, and other key passages, then respond to God’s conviction. He will help us, he will guide us to all truth, to all obedience (John 16:13).