Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 20:12.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.”  Exodus 20:12.

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Q. 104.  What doth God require in the fifth commandment?

A.  That I show all honor, love, and fidelity to my father and mother and all in authority over me, and submit myself to their good instruction and correction with due obedience;  and also patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities, since it pleases God to govern us by their hand.  Heidelberg Catechism.

In the following Scripture, Jesus taught the importance of obeying the spirit of this fifth commandment and show love and fidelity to our father and mother.

“He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.  For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’;  and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’;  but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother;  thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down;  and you do many things such as that.”  Mark 7:9-13.

“Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”  Colossians 3:20.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.”  Ephesians 6:2.

The Old Testament concludes with the following Scripture which contains both a final warning and the promise that God will restore hearts of His elect.  But as a quick detour, we also do note this Scripture.  “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,”  2 Timothy 3:1-2.  

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace;  and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff;  and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.”  “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings;  and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.  You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the LORD of hosts.

“Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.  He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a  curse.”  Malachi chapter 4.

And, the New Testament contains additional hope. Here is one example for the conclusion of this devotion.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  …  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, …”  Galatians 5:16 and 22.