◄ Deuteronomy 27:16 ►
Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.' And let all the people say, 'Amen!'
Study Bible
Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.
This phrase underscores the importance of honoring one's parents, a commandment deeply rooted in the Mosaic Law (Exodus 20:12). The term "cursed" indicates a divine judgment or consequence for failing to uphold this command. In ancient Israelite society, family was the foundational unit, and respect for parents was crucial for maintaining social order and covenantal faithfulness. Dishonoring parents could include actions or attitudes that bring shame or disrespect, which was seen as a serious offense. This commandment is reiterated in the New Testament, where Jesus emphasizes honoring parents (Matthew 15:4-6) and Paul reiterates it as the first commandment with a promise (Ephesians 6:2-3). The curse serves as a deterrent, highlighting the gravity of the sin and the need for communal adherence to God's laws.

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
The response of "Amen" by the people signifies their agreement and acceptance of the covenant stipulations. In Hebrew, "Amen" means "so be it" or "truly," indicating a collective affirmation of the curses pronounced. This communal response reflects the corporate nature of Israel's covenant with God, where the entire community is responsible for upholding the law. The public declaration and response serve to reinforce the seriousness of the covenant and the shared commitment to its terms. This practice of communal affirmation is seen throughout Scripture, such as in Nehemiah 8:6, where the people respond with "Amen" during the reading of the Law, and in the New Testament, where "Amen" is used to affirm truths (1 Corinthians 14:16).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who delivered God's laws and instructions, including the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy.

2. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, receiving the law as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

3. Mount Ebal
The location where the Israelites were instructed to pronounce curses, including the one in Deuteronomy 27:16.

4. The Levites
The tribe responsible for proclaiming the curses to the people.

5. The Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which the Israelites were about to enter, where they were to live according to God's laws.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Family Honor
Honoring parents is foundational to a stable and godly society. It reflects our respect for God's ordained authority structures.

The Seriousness of Disobedience
The curse pronounced in Deuteronomy 27:16 underscores the gravity of dishonoring parents. It serves as a warning of the spiritual and societal consequences of such actions.

Cultural and Spiritual Implications
In ancient Israel, family was central to community life. Disrespect towards parents was seen as a threat to the social fabric and spiritual health of the nation.

New Testament Continuity
The command to honor parents is not only an Old Testament principle but is reaffirmed in the New Testament, showing its timeless relevance.

Practical Application in Modern Life
In today's context, honoring parents can take many forms, including respect, care, and support, reflecting our obedience to God.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the command to honor one's parents in Deuteronomy 27:16 relate to the broader context of the Ten Commandments?

2. In what ways can dishonoring parents manifest in modern society, and what are the potential consequences?

3. How does the New Testament reinforce the importance of honoring parents, and what promises are associated with this command?

4. What are some practical ways we can honor our parents today, regardless of our age or their actions?

5. How can the principle of honoring parents influence our relationships within the church and the broader community?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 20:12
This verse is part of the Ten Commandments, emphasizing the importance of honoring one's parents, which is foundational to the curse in Deuteronomy 27:16.

Ephesians 6:1-3
Paul reiterates the command to honor one's parents, highlighting its significance in the New Testament and the promise of well-being and long life.

Proverbs 30:17
This proverb warns of severe consequences for those who mock or scorn their parents, aligning with the curse pronounced in Deuteronomy.

Matthew 15:4-6
Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for neglecting the command to honor parents, showing the enduring importance of this commandment.
Sermons
Ebal and GerizimJ. Orr Deuteronomy 27:11-26
ResponsesR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 27:11-26
The Decalogue Nationally ReciprocatedD. Davies Deuteronomy 27:11-26
Against Imposing on the IgnorantJ. Jortin, D. D.Deuteronomy 27:15-26
AmenJames Cochrane, M. A.Deuteronomy 27:15-26
The Landmarks of FaithOriginal Secession MagazineDeuteronomy 27:15-26
People
Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Gad, Issachar, Joseph, Levi, Levites, Moses, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Jordan River, Mount Ebal, Mount Gerizim
Topics
Amen, Cursed, Dishonors, Dishonoureth, Honour, Making, Sets, Setteth, Slighteth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 27:16

     5218   authority, in home
     5727   old age, attitudes
     8471   respect, for human beings

Deuteronomy 27:1-26

     7797   teaching

Deuteronomy 27:9-26

     5827   curse

Deuteronomy 27:15-26

     1461   truth, nature of
     5783   agreement

Library
Obedience
Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments.' Deut 27: 9, 10. What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God's voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God. If then I be a Father, where is my honour?' Mal 1: 6. Obedience carries in it the life-blood of religion. Obey the voice of the Lord …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

In Judæa and through Samaria - a Sketch of Samaritan History and Theology - Jews and Samaritans.
We have no means of determining how long Jesus may have tarried in Jerusalem after the events recorded in the previous two chapters. The Evangelic narrative [1850] only marks an indefinite period of time, which, as we judge from internal probability, cannot have been protracted. From the city He retired with His disciples to the country,' which formed the province of Judæa. There He taught and His disciples baptized. [1851] [1852] From what had been so lately witnessed in Jerusalem, as well …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

How Christ is Made Use of for Justification as a Way.
What Christ hath done to purchase, procure, and bring about our justification before God, is mentioned already, viz. That he stood in the room of sinners, engaging for them as their cautioner, undertaking, and at length paying down the ransom; becoming sin, or a sacrifice for sin, and a curse for them, and so laying down his life a ransom to satisfy divine justice; and this he hath made known in the gospel, calling sinners to an accepting of him as their only Mediator, and to a resting upon him for …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Gilgal, in Deuteronomy 11:30 what the Place Was.
That which is said by Moses, that "Gerizim and Ebal were over-against Gilgal," Deuteronomy 11:30, is so obscure, that it is rendered into contrary significations by interpreters. Some take it in that sense, as if it were near to Gilgal: some far off from Gilgal: the Targumists read, "before Gilgal": while, as I think, they do not touch the difficulty; which lies not so much in the signification of the word Mul, as in the ambiguity of the word Gilgal. These do all seem to understand that Gilgal which …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

In Galilee at the Time of Our Lord
"If any one wishes to be rich, let him go north; if he wants to be wise, let him come south." Such was the saying, by which Rabbinical pride distinguished between the material wealth of Galilee and the supremacy in traditional lore claimed for the academies of Judaea proper. Alas, it was not long before Judaea lost even this doubtful distinction, and its colleges wandered northwards, ending at last by the Lake of Gennesaret, and in that very city of Tiberias which at one time had been reputed unclean! …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Meditations of the Misery of a Man not Reconciled to God in Christ.
O wretched Man! where shall I begin to describe thine endless misery, who art condemned as soon as conceived; and adjudged to eternal death, before thou wast born to a temporal life? A beginning indeed, I find, but no end of thy miseries. For when Adam and Eve, being created after God's own image, and placed in Paradise, that they and their posterity might live in a blessed state of life immortal, having dominion over all earthly creatures, and only restrained from the fruit of one tree, as a sign …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Jesus' Last Public Discourse. Denunciation of Scribes and Pharisees.
(in the Court of the Temple. Tuesday, April 4, a.d. 30.) ^A Matt. XXIII. 1-39; ^B Mark XII. 38-40; ^C Luke XX. 45-47. ^a 1 Then spake Jesus ^b 38 And in his teaching ^c in the hearing of all the people he said unto ^a the multitudes, and to his disciples [he spoke in the most public manner], 2 saying, ^c 46 Beware of the scribes, ^a The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat: 3 all things whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Differences in Judgment About Water Baptism, no Bar to Communion: Or, to Communicate with Saints, as Saints, Proved Lawful.
IN ANSWER TO A BOOK WRITTEN BY THE BAPTISTS, AND PUBLISHED BY MR. T. PAUL AND MR. W. KIFFIN, ENTITLED, 'SOME SERIOUS REFLECTIONS ON THAT PART OF MR BUNYAN'S CONFESSION OF FAITH, TOUCHING CHURCH COMMUNION WITH UNBAPTIZED BELIEVERS.' WHEREIN THEIR OBJECTIONS AND ARGUMENTS ARE ANSWERED, AND THE DOCTRINE OF COMMUNION STILL ASSERTED AND VINDICATED. HERE IS ALSO MR. HENRY JESSE'S JUDGMENT IN THE CASE, FULLY DECLARING THE DOCTRINE I HAVE ASSERTED. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'Should not the multitude of words be answered? …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf. …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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