I’ve heard many a message on the words “train up a child in the way he should go” and “teach these words of mine to your children“, and Commandment number 5 which is: “honour your father and mother“. There has been much pontificating on the presumed promises and even on how adults are to honour their parents so that things will go well for them…for us… and I suspect in generations gone by, Commandment number 5 was fairly drilled into children… dare I recal – pretty sure I did a bit of that too.
:'(
But.
In a recent reading of Deuteronomy in a pretty quick time frame I noticed how absolutely peppered it was with words like ‘teach these things to your children‘, ‘impress these words on your children‘, ‘be careful to obey‘ – over and over and over God instructs and Moses pleads with the people to “teach and obey“.
And just like a set of brackets before and after the Big 10, or a string of asterixes to bring *****attention***** and emphasis, the commandments in chapter 5 are encircled with the words, teach, obey, be careful, instruct – Moses absolutely implores the community to teach and live the WHOLE law, and just once in the centre of it – it is written for children to honour what they’re taught.
The burden of teaching and authenticity is on the parents/community. Yes there is an actual command for children to obey – but that’s not a free-for all. It’s a linked system, as strongly emphasised as could ever be.
Parents teach > > > > Children honour < < < < Parents teach
Its never OK for parents to hold C5 over a child without the substance of the before and after. At best, that’s ignorance – at worst its hypocrisy leaning toward abuse.
The meaning of a word in Matthew 18:10, instead of despise – is ‘disesteem’. Most of us wouldn’t consider that we despise our children – but to not esteem them with their God given value – means the same thing.
Read this section but watch for that word in verse 10.
Matt 18:1-10 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! … 10 “See that you do not [DISESTEEM] (despise) one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
This has not been a post about the 10 Commandments – but of recognising our part in the God ordained flow.
Parents – our words must be backed up with substance.
Not sure how? The Cross. Our knees. His Word.
Download chapters 4-5-6 of Deuteronomy here.