Ephesians 6:2: Honor parents' value today?
How does Ephesians 6:2 emphasize the importance of honoring one's parents today?

Setting the Verse in Context

Ephesians 6:2: “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise).


Why Paul Repeats the Command

• Paul lifts a command from Exodus 20:12—to show it remains binding under the New Covenant.

• By calling it “the first commandment with a promise,” Paul highlights God’s unchanging character: promises still stand, so obedience still matters.

• Repetition in the New Testament underlines permanence. If the early church had to hear it again, modern believers certainly do.


What “Honor” Looks Like Today

1. Respectful Speech

Proverbs 30:17 warns of severe judgment on lips that scorn parents.

– Tone, social-media posts, and private conversations should reflect esteem.

2. Willing Obedience (while under parental authority)

Colossians 3:20: “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.”

– Obedience isn’t a cultural relic; it’s a present-tense command tied to pleasing God.

3. Ongoing Care (after leaving home)

Mark 7:9-13 shows Jesus rebuking those who withheld practical support.

– Honoring includes financial, emotional, and physical assistance when parents age.

4. Grateful Remembrance

Proverbs 23:22: “Do not despise your mother when she is old.”

– Sharing stories, celebrating milestones, and publicly acknowledging sacrifices keep honor alive.


Why It Still Matters

• Promise Attached: “that it may go well with you.” God links personal well-being to family faithfulness.

• Societal Stability: Strong homes foster stable communities. Disregard for parents erodes social order (2 Timothy 3:1-2 lists disobedience to parents as end-times decay).

• Spiritual Formation: Learning to honor earthly parents trains the heart to honor the Heavenly Father (Hebrews 12:9).

• Witness to the World: Counter-cultural respect for parents showcases transformed lives in Christ (Matthew 5:16).


Practical Steps for This Week

• Call or visit parents simply to listen.

• Express specific gratitude for one past sacrifice.

• Pray for wisdom to meet current or future care needs.

• Refrain from negative jokes or complaints about parents in any setting.

• Teach children or younger believers the same command by example.


Closing Takeaway

Ephesians 6:2 doesn’t merely echo an ancient rule; it renews a divine pattern that blesses families, enriches communities, and honors God today.

What is the meaning of Ephesians 6:2?
Top of Page
Top of Page