Apr 13
15
Doctrinal Standard #64 & 65
- Q. What does the fifth commandment require?
- A. The fifth commandment requires us to respect and treat others, whether above, below, or equal to us, as their position or our relationship to them demands.
- Q. What does the fifth commandment forbid?
- A. The fifth commandment forbids being disrespectful to or not treating others as their position or relationship to us demands.
Memory Verses
- Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4, ESV)
Scripture
- Study Passage: Ephesians 5:22-6:9
- Support Passages: Genesis 4:20-22, 45:8; Numbers 12; II Kings 13:14; I Corinthians 4:14 21; I Peter 2:13-17, 3:6; Romans 13:1-7; Colossians 3:18-25
- Bible Story: 2 Kings 2:12-25
Thoughts
- “The Bible teaches children how to treat their parents. It tells them what they should not do as well as what they should do. As children are commanded to honor their parents, so they are forbidden to dishonor them. They must not show disrespect in any way. Unfortunately, we see all around us children of all ages who demonstrate disrespect for their parents. Such attitudes have become so ordinary that we hardly notice them when we see them. God considers disrespect toward parents as something very serious. God gave the Israelites twelve curses to pronounce as soon as they entered the Promised Land. These were curses for people who would do any of twelve very wrong things. The curses were for things like killing innocent people or worshiping idols. One of the curses was for anyone who treated his parents with disrespect.
- Children are forbidden to dishonor their parents by attaching them physically, by cursing them, by refusing to obey them, or by mocking or making fun of them. Children also dishonor their parents when they refuse to learn from their teaching. Almost all parents want the best for their children. They teach them what they believe they should know. Children do not always see why their parent’s teaching is so important, yet they should believe that their parents are wiser than they are. They need to be diligent to learn what their parents teach them. Especially when children have Christian parents who will teach them the truth of God’s Word, they should work hard at learning what their parents want them to know.” [1]
Discussion Questions
- How should parents be treated? Be specific.
- What expectations does God have for parents?
- What expectations does God have for children?
- Why is it that if we disobey our parents we are disobeying God?
- In what way(s) have you dishonored your parents?
- What does this reveal about our heart?
- How does scripture teach us to deal with this?
