How does Ephesians 6:2 connect with the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:12? The Direct Texts Ephesians 6:2: “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise). Exodus 20:12: “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Why Paul Quotes the Command • Paul is instructing believers on household relationships (Ephesians 6:1–4). • He reaches back to the Decalogue, showing that God’s moral law still speaks with authority. • By adding the parenthetical note—“the first commandment with a promise”—Paul highlights the blessing attached to obedience. Tracing the Promise • In Exodus 20:12 the promise was national and territorial: long life in the land of Canaan. • Paul applies the same promise universally to the church era (cf. Ephesians 6:3), stressing well-being and longevity wherever believers live. • The substance of the promise—God’s favor expressed through stability and prolonged days—remains unchanged. Continuity Between Old and New • The Fifth Commandment stands in both covenants: reiterated at Sinai (Exodus 20:12), at the plains of Moab (Deuteronomy 5:16), and now in the apostolic writings (Ephesians 6:2). • Jesus Himself upheld it (Matthew 15:4; Mark 7:10), condemning any tradition that nullified parental honor. • Colossians 3:20 links children’s obedience to parental authority with what is “pleasing to the Lord,” echoing the Decalogue’s enduring moral weight. Honor Defined • More than outward obedience—it includes respect, care, gratitude, and financial support when needed (1 Timothy 5:4). • Proverbs 1:8-9 pictures parental teaching as a “garland” and a “pendant,” showing honor’s beauty and public witness. • Dishonor brings consequences: see Deuteronomy 27:16 and Romans 1:30. Practical Takeaways • Children: obey promptly and respectfully; doing so invites God’s blessing into everyday life. • Adults: continue honoring aging parents through time, resources, and advocacy. • Churches: model intergenerational unity, treating older members “as fathers” and “as mothers” (1 Timothy 5:1-2). Wider Gospel Connection • The Fifth Commandment mirrors our relationship with God the Father: honoring earthly parents trains the heart for honoring Him (Hebrews 12:9). • Christ perfectly fulfilled this command (Luke 2:51; John 19:26-27), providing both example and enabling grace for believers. Summary Ephesians 6:2 directly quotes Exodus 20:12, affirming the timeless call to honor father and mother. Paul underscores that the attached promise of well-being and longevity still stands, demonstrating the continuity of God’s moral law from Sinai to the New Testament church and inviting believers today to experience the same covenant blessing through faithful obedience. |
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