Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother…”
A Mother’s Day Confession
One boy was asked what he was getting his mom for Mother’s Day. He said, “I was gonna clean my room—but I didn’t want her to get used to it.” That’s funny—but sadly, too real. Many of us intend to show honor, but rarely put feet to it. We confuse appreciation with action.
But honor isn’t just felt. It’s done.
Honor Has Hands
Exodus 20:12 is a call to act. In ancient Israel, honoring your parents meant sacrificing time, resources, and reputation to ensure they were cared for and respected. In a society without Social Security, nursing homes, or legal protections, a child’s honor was a parent’s only safety net.
This command wasn’t sentimental. It was sacrificial.
That’s why Paul tells Timothy:
“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household… for this is pleasing in the sight of God.” — 1 Timothy 5:4
Honor shows up in:
- Provision – Caring for aging parents like they once cared for you (Matt. 15:3–6).
- Protection – Speaking respectfully, especially in public (Prov. 31:28).
- Participation – Being present, not just sending a card.
- Practicality – Running errands, helping with finances, resolving tensions.
Jesus, even as He hung on the cross, entrusted His mother to John (John 19:26–27). That’s how far His hands went in honoring her.
Reformation Roots: Honor Is Active
Martin Luther again emphasizes:
“Outward honor consists in actions—such as rising before them, doffing one’s hat, obeying them, helping them, and serving them.”
That’s not legalism—it’s love in motion.
When Rav Yosef, a Jewish sage, rose for his elderly mother, it wasn’t just cultural. He said he did so as if he were rising for the Shekinah—the visible presence of God. That’s biblical honor with hands.
Takeaway Tasks – Ways to Honor Today
- Call or visit your parents regularly. Don’t let your silence speak dishonor.
- Do something without being asked. Initiative is a mark of true honor.
- Serve their needs as unto the Lord. Mow the lawn. Cook a meal. Drive them to an appointment.
- Publicly praise them. Share a memory or testimony that blesses their legacy (Prov. 31:28).
And if your parents are no longer living—honor their memory. Speak of their faith, pass on their values, write their stories. Your children will learn what honor looks like by how you practice it.
Questions for the Journey
- Is my honor visible or merely verbal?
- What task or need have I been putting off that would honor my parents?
- If my children treated me the way I treat my parents, would I feel valued?
Prayer
Lord, teach me that honor is not only a heart attitude but a set of daily actions. Let me love my parents not only in word, but in deed and truth. Show me the practical ways I can lighten their load, lift their spirits, and reflect Your love to them. May my hands be busy with obedience, not excuses. In Jesus’ name, Amen.