Deuteronomy 5:16

In the fifth commandment, Moses brings in the words "as the LORD your God commanded you." They clearly show that he is not simply repeating. The same words appear in the fourth commandment, but there you might take them to refer to the first giving of the Sabbath, when the manna fell. He adds here also, "that it may be well with you."

There is an exercise of authority in God's created order which is a check on will — the origin of all disorder — such as the authority entrusted to parents and the like. Scripture insists on these, in contrast with independence, as the basis of happiness and moral order in the world. This is not simply God's authority giving rules. It is not even His statements about the results of actions. It is the order He has set up in the relationships He has established among people, especially of parents. Subjection to them is really owning God in His order.

Obedience describes what children owe in conduct and action. "Honour" expresses more what their settled feeling towards their parents should be. It is a deeply solemn word. Our blessed Lord used the same one when He says "that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father." (John 5:23.) … The child who honours his parents will love to show them outward respect. He will value their counsel and instruction. He will obey them when they are away as when they are present. He will avoid anything that could give them pain or sorrow, and gladly give way to their feelings and wishes.

Israel soon failed in this. Absalom, son of David, rebelled against his father and sought to kill him (2 Sam. 17:1-4). His days were not long on the earth. A father may be hard and cruel, but his children are still to honour him. A mother may even be irresponsible, but her children are to honour her — that is, to show proper respect.

A parent's authority is sacred. Suppose I were a Jew, and he tells me not to become a Christian: I disobey him because there is a higher obligation. This matters morally. We may never leave or reject a rightful authority on the ground of our own will or self. The only ground is the direct authority of God. Never do I have a right, but I ought to obey. … But obedience is always our path.

This command was one of the "ten words." It is called the "first commandment with promise" (Eph. 6:2). Jehovah marked it out by promising prosperity and long life to those who obeyed it. See the special reward God granted to the house of Rechab for their obedience to their father (Jer. 35:18-19).

The apostle shows that God has always required children to honour and obey their parents. He required it under the law as truly as under Christianity. It matters so much to Him that Jehovah added a promise to the commandment, the first one to carry a promise: "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." That promise, of course, fits the calling of Israel. God calls the Christian to heavenly blessing. He expects trial, difficulty, and maybe persecution in this world. Even so, there is present blessing in the government of God for those who do His will.

This is not a legal commandment for believers today, yet Ephesians 6:1 shows it still has moral importance. Our motives are not to be those of submitting to legal demands, but of delighting to please God.