The Fifth Commandment- Exodus 20:12
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· 2 viewsScripture Reading: Romans 13:1–7; Ephesians 6:1–9
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The Fifth Commandment- Exodus 20:12
The Fifth Commandment- Exodus 20:12
The fifth commandment is generally viewed as the second table of the Law. The first four commands tell us whom we are to worship, how to worship outwardly, how to worship inwardly, and when to worship particularly.
The fifth commandment shifts attention away from God in particular to our relationships with one another.
An interesting point to consider, though for another time, is that Paul seems to attach this fifth commandment with the first table (our relationship to God), based on what he says in Romans 13:8–10.
However, our goal for this morning is to consider the fifth commandment and its importance for today. My goal for us to see this morning is,
The Fifth Commandment Calls for Honoring, Obeying, and Helping Those Whom God has placed in Authority in Our Lives.
I. The Cornerstone of this Command- Ex. 20:1–2
I. The Cornerstone of this Command- Ex. 20:1–2
We need to consider once again the first two verses of this chapter and tie this back to God’s covenantal relationship to Israel. God delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery, and condescended to be in relationship to them.
Our relationships to other people stream from our relationship to God. The order is God and then people, though it is not as clean cut as that may sound. God saved Israel, and Israel treats others differently as a result. (Eph. 4:32)
II. The Covenantal Context of this Command- Ex. 20:12
II. The Covenantal Context of this Command- Ex. 20:12
This brings us to the covenantal context of this command. This takes place specifically in the Mosaic Covenant.
God promises Abraham three things: a nation, a land, and to be a blessing to all the nations. God is keeping His promise through the people of Israel, and now they are about to be given the land (notice God’s phrase “in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”
It is in the land, and through the people of Israel, that the Seed of Abraham (Jesus) will come.
Long life as a result of honoring one’s parents was a general promise from God.
As we move from the Old Testament, and Old or Mosaic Covenant, we see this command repeated by the apostle Paul in the New Testament, or New Covenant, in Ephesians 6:1–3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.””
Is Paul promising a blessed and sweet life for obedience? Yes, but not an earthly-bound blessedness. There is a monumental shift as we go through the Scriptures from the Old to the New Testament from physical land and physical people to a spiritual land and a spiritual people!
What are the positive aspects of this command, and what are the prohibitions of this command? Let’s examine them now.
III. The Contributions of this Command- Ex. 20:12; Rom. 13:1–7; Ephesians 6:1–9
III. The Contributions of this Command- Ex. 20:12; Rom. 13:1–7; Ephesians 6:1–9
Children are to “honor” their parents. Compared to the previous commands “you shall not...” and the following commands “you shall not…”
Positively, what does this command entail?
A. We Honor Those in Authority Over Us
A. We Honor Those in Authority Over Us
What does it mean to honor? It means to hold in high esteem, to recognize the worth of the individual and act in accordance with this.
The reason I shift from the relationship between children to parents is because the teachings of the Old Testament, as well as the New, extend beyond this basic, familial relationship. Marital, familial, professional, and governmental
Paul would apply these ideas to our relationship to governmental authorities (see Rom. 13, for example).
Now, notice that God does not tell Israel to honor good parents. Every human is by nature sinful. No human authority is without sin. Our honoring of those in authority depends not on their worthiness, but on God’s supreme rule over everything, including our parents, our bosses, and our governmental leaders.
Of most importance is the fact that Jesus submitted to those in authority over Him.
Luke 2:51 “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”
Jesus is perfect, His earthly mother and step-father were not.
Matthew 17:25–27 “He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.””
Jesus submitted to the Scriptures and the taxes laden on the people of Israel under their religious authority.
Matthew 22:21 “They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.””
Jesus submitted to the Roman government.
B. We Respect Those in Authority Over Us
B. We Respect Those in Authority Over Us
We also respect them, again, considering their place in God’s rule in our lives. We value them and treat them with kindness. We speak respectfully when referring to them.
C. We Obey and Submit to Those in Authority Over Us
C. We Obey and Submit to Those in Authority Over Us
These inward displays of honor and respect are outwardly manifested in our obedience and submission, even when we disagree.
The only exception is when our authorities ask us to disobey God (cf. Acts 4:19).
D. We Pray for Those in Authority Over Us
D. We Pray for Those in Authority Over Us
Finally, we pray for those in authority (cf. 1 Timothy 2:1–2). We can pray for many things for these individuals, but we are commanded in the NT to pray, and it is, I would argue, implied in the few words of this fifth commandment.
A society that handles itself in this way is an ordered society. On the marital level, familial level, professional level, societal level, and the national level, this stands true.
Likewise, a society that does not handle itself in this way is a disordered society.
What are the negatives? What are the constraints of this command?
IV. The Constraints of this Command- Ex. 20:12; Rom. 13:1–7; Eph. 6:1–9
IV. The Constraints of this Command- Ex. 20:12; Rom. 13:1–7; Eph. 6:1–9
The constraints basically parallel the previous points considered, but from a negative perspective. We will group them together into two points and then consider one final point.
A. We disobey when we fail to honor, respect, obey and submit to our authorities
A. We disobey when we fail to honor, respect, obey and submit to our authorities
Speaking evil of our authorities is a violation of this command. We certainly can speak out against policies or evil, but we must do so in a respectful and Christian way. The book of Daniel offers us two examples (Dan. 3:16–18 and Dan. 5:17–23).
We also should obey and submit to our authorities, be they parental, or professional, or governmental. Paul lays out this in greater detail in Romans 13:7 “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”
B. We disobey when we fail to pray for our authorities
B. We disobey when we fail to pray for our authorities
We sin when we also fail to pray for our authorities, be they parental, professional, or governmental.
We should pray for one another, but our prayers should also include those in authority.
A failure to submit to our parents, our bosses, and our leaders is sin against the LORD our God.
Why is this command so important?
A failure to obey this command denies the sovereignty of God.
Consider the fact that up to this point, God has declared His omnipotence in and through creation and His command over it (miracles in Egypt)
Consider the fact that up to this point, God has raised kings and brought them down according to His will (think of Pharaoh, who’s very existence was to demonstrate God’s sovereign power)
Consider the fact that after this point, God would demolish the nations in Canaan, raise up Israel to a world power, and then bring His national people into exile for their failure to live up to this covenant, and through all of that establish several Gentile nations, ultimately the Roman Empire, through which Empire the Gospel would be proclaimed through the known world.
Consider the fact that in every period of time God has sovereignly placed you in your marriage, family, employment, and nation, all lead by (whether good or evil) individuals and leaders appointed by God.
A failure to obey this command is, in essence, the same as Pharaoh saying, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice?”
The Fifth Commandment Calls for Honoring, Obeying, and Helping Those Whom God has placed in Authority in Our Lives
because it reflects the biblical belief that God is the Lord our God who has brought us out of the bondage of death, our of the house of slavery to sin. And this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
