The Fourth Commandment.
Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother [that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long upon the earth].
What does this mean?We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.
In this fourth commandment we are told that we are to honor those who have authority over us so that it may be well with us and that we might live long upon the earth. Think about the chaos in so many homes and our school systems because many young people; rather than honor their parents or teachers, are allowed (and sometimes encouraged by other people in authority) to be outright disrespectful; defiantly rejecting all authority. How much learning can be done in this kind of environment? How many children are being taught to disrespect and connive against our police officers who have sworn to protect us? It makes it very difficult to serve and protect or teach anyone when one is being cursed at or emotionally or even physically attacked.
God has given each of us people in our lives who are meant to teach and guide us; to care for us. Parents, police officers, teachers, doctors, employers are just a few examples of such people today. Sadly, not all of them have our best interests at heart. There are those who think that everything should be done for their glory to the detriment even of the children. Martin Luther reminds us, in the Large Catechism, that even though the Commandments do not speak directly to the duties of those in authority; scripture reminds us all that we are to love and care for one another. This applies to not just the parents; but, anyone and everyone who might have the duties to teach or care for or protect our children. If we teach our children that it is all right to disrespect others; they will also learn to disrespect us.
We should honor all in positions of authority and those in authority would be wise to guide those who they have authority over; to teach them the ways of the Lord. Do not enable them to disrespect others in authority. If honor, respect, and even integrity could make a come-back; then we would all live long and peacefully upon the earth.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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