Introduction : To children, their parents are a representation of God. God commanded parents to bear and raise their children. Parents are not perfect. However, they are representatives of the love which God gives. To honor parents is ultimately to honor God. God is the Father of parents of parents of parents. Therefore, if we don´t honor our parents, it means that we don´t honor God. Those who don´t honor their visible parents can´t honor the invisible God.
1. Jesus was the best model for honor and ´hyo´ - Originally, there is no word like ´hyo´ in western countries. It is translated into ´filial piety´ in English. ´Filial´ means children and ´piety´ means sincere, loyal, and faithful. However, ´hyo´ was mentioned by Confucius, and it was practiced by Jesus. 1) Jesus was incarnated (Mt 1:21, Lk 2:51-52) 2) Jesus´ life on earth for 33 years - He experienced all man could do, and He accomplished the will of God. So God always said, "This is my son, with whom I am pleased." (Lk 10:21, 19:41) 3) His disgraceful death (Php 2:6-8) - It is finished (Jn 14:31, 10:17, 1Jn 3:1)
2. Honor your father and mother 1) To honor - to exalt (Lev 19;3) 2) Love - It means, ´understand, have compassion, forgive, and love´ 3) Do not make your parents worried and anxious - You should enjoy good health, and all should go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (Pr 17:25) 4) Make your parents happy - You should become a good child, and have a good relationship with your parents. (Pr 23:25) 5) Care for your parents - Take care of them in their dwelling and life (1 Ti 5:4)
3. God´s will for ´filial piety´ and ´disobedience´ 1) Wrath for disobedience to parents (Dt 21:18-21; Pr 20:20) 2) A reward for filial piety (Eph 6:1-3) (1) The first commandment with a promise - The first commandment promised for blessing (Ex 20:12) (2) Everything goes well with good children in the world - They will be blessed in the world as well as in heaven - Ruth was a Moabite, but she became an Israelite because she completely obeyed her mother-in-law Naomi. (Ru 2:10-12) (3) Blessing of health and a long life. (Pr 3:1-2, 16)
Conclusion : In the world, people are getting more and more greedy. They indulge in hedonism, egoism, and material wealth more and more. Parents educate their children only for worldly fame, not for their good character. As a result, children tend to take advantage of their parents and abandon them when they feel burdened. Today, we strongly need to repent and obey the teaching of God.
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