The Fifth Commandment, to honor father and mother, is one that many see as ‘less important,’ not only today, but even 2,000 years ago. Yet, while others ignored this command, Jesus, our Messiah, did not. He honored His Father in Heaven and even those who raised Him on Earth…
Join us as we explore the Fifth Commandment, Jesus’ views on it, and how His actions confirmed it…
The Fifth Commandment and Mothers
On Mount Sinai, God gave Moses—as part of the Fifth Commandment—the instruction to honor our mothers. Yet, unlike the other nine Commandments, this one has a lovely promise that comes with obedience. Long life!
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”
—Exodus 20:12
“‘Honor your father and mother,’ …is the first commandment with promise:”
—Ephesians 6:2
However, it is not the promise of reward that is meant to be our focus. Indeed, Jesus would, even as He hung on the cross, honor both His earthly mother and Heavenly Father… with no thought of reward.
“…Jesus… accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled…”
—John 19:28
We, like Yeshua, are meant to walk in honor no matter the circumstances we are in. And honoring our mothers and fathers on earth is one way in which God specifically wants us to walk in honor.
Yes, the direct quote, “honor your father and mother” is only mentioned eight times in the NKJV of the Bible, however, the sentiment of this commandment is found many more times than that. Not only that, but God specifically and intentionally honored many mothers spoken of within the Word—both Jew and Gentile—blessing them and their offspring…
Take Ruth, a woman not born of the twelve tribes. God blessed her with safety, prosperity, and even with a son, Obed. Greater still, He made Ruth the great-grandmother of King David, and twenty-eight generations later, within the very lineage of Jesus!
“…Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king…
“…from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.”
—Matthew 1:5-6, 17
God does more than simply tell US to honor our mothers and fathers, He Himself demonstrates that same honor to them!
Jesus’ Views on Honoring Mothers
Jesus taught with words, deeds, and miracles during His life on earth.
“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
—John 12:46
Yeshua’s life held such purpose; His death and resurrection the restoration of His people to Himself! As such, one might assume that restating the instruction in the Ten Commandments—reminding us to honor our parents—would have been unnecessary, or of less importance. Yet, Jesus did not think so…
“…‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’—then he need not honor his father or mother.” Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.’”
—Matthew 15:3-6
This is the response Jesus gave to the scribes and Pharisees who spoke against His disciples for the act of not traditionally washing their hands before they ate bread. Yeshua used it to show that they—the scribes and Pharisees—in their focus on man-made tradition, had lost sight of the values of God…
They had forgotten what God desires most from us: our love.
Love which generates within us the desire to fulfill His instruction. To emulate Him. Behaving with honor; treating those around us with that honor.
We can see this love and honor through Yeshua’s life. For Jesus honored God the Father, but He also honored His earthly mother…
Not only verbally reminding us of the importance of honoring our mothers, but through action; through Jesus seeing to Mary’s well-being, even as He was dying!
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”
—John 19:25-27
You may have heard that “honor is the currency of Heaven.” Yeshua, following the example of His Father in Heaven—doing nothing unless He saw Him do it first—acted in honor… giving honor.
He made His actions demonstrate honor! Not just when it was easy either…
Jesus felt the agony of the cross, yet, even as He struggled for breath, He answered the will of God!
He gave honor.
Even before asking for something to drink… before crying out “it is finished,” Yeshua made sure His mother would be taken care of.
Jesus honored Mary, His mother, and though He knew He would be raised from the dead, He did not delay giving her care unto another, assuring that there was no break in honor—so she might experience a small bit of peace.
Love made His actions clear.
Jesus could do no less. For it is not in the nature of God to speak one thing then do another.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
—Numbers 23:19
Due to this, God’s amazing truth, integrity, and unchanging nature; everything written in the Word, everything Jesus spoke… it is truth! It is life!
Jesus, having spoken the Fifth Commandment to honor mother and father, could do no less than honor His Father and His mother.
“…‘if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’
“He said to Him, ‘Which ones?’
“Jesus said, ‘“You shall not murder,” “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “Honor your father and your mother,” and, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”’”
—Matthew 19:17-19
Why Do We Need to Honor Mothers Like Jesus Did?
We are made in the image of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—yet, as it says in Romans 3:23, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
None of us are perfect; and what sins we each struggle with vary.
One of us may struggle to keep our tongues from slandering through gossip. Another may struggle to love their neighbor when they are constantly initiating strife. Yet, God’s love is perfect, and Jesus’ death and resurrection are the remedies for our transgressions.
Yeshua’s Blood heals.
Because of our weaknesses, there may be times when we struggle to honor our earthly mothers. Where we argue with them over something. Or, perhaps, struggle against our mother’s actions when we think they are too controlling.
Yet, listening to their opinions with patience. Showing love through words and actions; and allowing them to do the same. These are acts of honor.
Honor that we are meant to give them, even when we do not ‘feel’ like it…
For honor is the currency of heaven. It comes from above; and, we are meant to pass it on.
“Both riches and honor come from You…”
—1 Chronicles 29:12
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
—Mark 10:45
Like Jesus—the One who has given us the beautiful gift of salvation—we are meant to honor our mothers. We are meant to obey the Fifth Commandment!
This Mother’s Day—and every day—let us strive to honor the mothers in our lives.
Let us give of ourselves… of our time, our words of encouragement, and our love!
Let us emulate Jesus, seeing to the needs of our mothers however we are able; freely, and with love…
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”
—Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”
—Deuteronomy 5:16