How does Ruth 3:16 connect to honoring parents as seen in Exodus 20:12? Setting the Scene in Ruth 3:16 “When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked her, ‘How did it go, my daughter?’ Then Ruth told her everything the man had done for her.” ( Ruth 3:16) - Ruth has followed Naomi’s bold instructions at the threshing floor. - She comes home before dawn, carrying both barley (v. 17) and the report of Boaz’s kindness. - Naomi’s opening words, “How did it go, my daughter?” show tender, parental concern; Ruth’s full disclosure shows respectful trust. A Living Portrait of Honor - Obedience: Ruth submitted to Naomi’s plan despite personal risk (3:5 – 6). - Transparency: She “told her everything,” withholding nothing. - Provision: The six measures of barley Boaz sent home (3:17) become Ruth’s gift of care to Naomi. - Identity: Naomi calls her “daughter,” affirming the familial bond that Ruth gladly accepts. Echoes of the Fifth Commandment “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) - Honor embraces more than biological parents; covenant family counts (cf. Mark 3:35). - Ruth respects Naomi’s authority, mirroring the heart of the command. - The promised blessing of longevity and land security foreshadows Ruth’s own settled life in Bethlehem and her place in Israel’s royal line (Ruth 4:13–22). Layers of Blessing Flowing from Honor - Personal: Marriage to Boaz secures Ruth’s future. - Familial: Naomi moves from bitterness to joy (Ruth 4:14–17). - National: Their son Obed becomes grandfather of David, and ancestor of Messiah (Matthew 1:5–6, 16). Practical Takeaways for Today - Honor spiritual and marital parents with the same seriousness as birth parents. - Accept godly counsel, act on it, and report back with humility. - Express honor tangibly—time, resources, and words of gratitude. - Trust that God weaves obedience into generational blessing (Ephesians 6:2–3). Supporting Scriptures - Leviticus 19:32 – rise before the gray-headed and honor the aged. - Proverbs 1:8–9 – a father’s instruction and a mother’s teaching adorn life. - 1 Timothy 5:4 – caring for family is “pleasing in the sight of God.” - Colossians 3:20 – children’s obedience “is pleasing to the Lord.” - Deuteronomy 27:16 – dishonoring parents invites a curse, underscoring the weight of this command. |
    |