“当…孝敬父母，使你得福，并使你的日子…得以长久。” - 申 5:16

这个命令不是写给小孩子的。他们别无选择，只能尊敬他们的父母。它是写给那些与长辈生活在一起的青年人的。在古以色列，三代以上的人共同生活在一个屋檐下是很常见的，就像今天的某些社群仍然保持的样式。

你如何对待你的长辈，特别是你的父母？我见过一些年轻人对他们的父母表现得比对其他人都差。他们抱怨说他们应该得到更多、更好的东西。他们责备父母，因为他们不了解最新的技术或趋势。让他们做一项简单的家务，他们就大发脾气。当另一个成年人说：“你的孩子真的很棒”时，他的父母都惊呆了。

我们最好和最坏的行为都会在我们的家庭中表现出来。这就是为什么这个提醒是必要的。对你的父母表示尊敬。如果他们不再像以前那样聪明或有能力，没有关系。他们和其他人一样，也有缺点，这也没关系。尊敬的基本标准是承认他们是你的父母这一事实。

尊敬你的父母会带来祝福。这条命令以一个应许结束，说：因着我们尊重神所赐给我们的父母，祂会赐给我们生命和祝福。

祷告

神啊，为着父母们感谢你，特别是那些敬虔的父母。感谢你使他们成为我们和他人生命中的礼物。请帮助我们向他们表示合宜的尊敬，并尊重所有被你创造和蒙你所爱的人。奉耶稣的名，阿们。

以弗所书 6:1-4

1你们做儿女的，要在主里听从父母，这是理所当然的。
2“要孝敬父母，使你得福，在世长寿。”这是第一条带应许的诫命。
4你们做父亲的，不要惹儿女的气，只要照着主的教训和警戒养育他们。

Honor Your Parents

"Honor your father and your mother . . . so that you may live long and that it may go well with you. . . ." - Deuteronomy 5:16

This command was not written for little children. They have no choice but to honor their parents. It was written to younger adults who lived with older generations. Living together in a household with three or more generations was common in ancient Israel, as it is in some societies today.

How do you treat your elders, especially your parents? I have seen some young people act worse toward their parents than they do toward anyone else. They complain that they deserve more and nicer things. They berate their parents because they aren’t up on the latest technology or trends. They throw a fit when asked to do a simple household task. When another adult says, “You sure have a wonderful child,” the parent is stunned.

Our best and our worst behavior comes out in our families. That is why this reminder is necessary. Show honor to your parents. It doesn’t matter if they aren’t as smart or capable as they once were. It doesn’t matter that they, like everyone else, have flaws. The criterion for honor is the fact that they are your parents.

Honoring your parents will bring blessing. This command closes with a promise, saying that God gives us life and blessing for honoring the parents he has given us.

Prayer

Thank you, God, for parents, especially godly parents. Thank you for the gift they are in our lives and in others’ lives. Help us to show them proper honor and to respect all people as created and loved by you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.