Scripture referenced 11 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
-
Exodus 20:12 the fifth commandment, honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Keep this verse
Deuteronomy 5:7-21
the second stating of the Ten Commandments in Deuteronomy before Israel entered the promised land
7 “You shall have no other gods before me.
8 “You shall not make a carved image for yourself, any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
9 You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me;
10 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
11 “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain: for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
12 “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you.
13 You shall labor six days, and do all your work;
14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God, in which you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
15 You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
16 “Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
17 “You shall not murder.
18 “You shall not commit adultery.
19 “You shall not steal.
20 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
21 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Deuteronomy 5:16
the restatement of honor your father and mother, that it may be well with you in the land
16 “Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Ephesians 6:1-3
children obey your parents in the Lord, first commandment with a promise that it may be well with you
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:
3 “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Matthew 15:1-9
Pharisees challenged Jesus about handwashing; Jesus rebuked them for using Corban tradition to void honoring father and mother
1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,
2 “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?
4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
5 But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,”
6 he shall not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
8 ‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’”
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Isaiah 29:13
quoted by Jesus against the Pharisees, this people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me
13 The Lord said, “Because this people draws near with their mouth and honors me with their lips, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught;
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Galatians 5:15
do not bite, devour, and consume one another
15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Ephesians 4
be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to one another
1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;
3 being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.
7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
9 Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;
16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts;
19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you did not learn Christ that way;
21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;
23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
25 Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.
26 “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 and don’t give place to the devil.
28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
30 Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Colossians 3
bear with and forgive one another
1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
6 for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;
8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Colossians 3
children obey your parents, mentioned in context of Monday night study
1 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;
6 for which things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7 You also once walked in those, when you lived in them;
8 but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
9 Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,
10 and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,
11 where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14 Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
18 Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Proverbs 31
referenced in the hope that his mother would always be called blessed, like the Proverbs 31 woman
1 The words of king Lemuel; the revelation which his mother taught him.
2 “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3 Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’
5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the justice due to anyone who is afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; and wine to the bitter in soul:
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
10 Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
Pastor Ray preached on Mother's Day 2019, using the fifth commandment as his anchor. He worked from Exodus 20:12 through Paul's words in Ephesians and a sharp exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees to make the case that honoring your mother is not optional, conditional, or limited to mothers who earned it.
What was said
The sermon came out of a six-and-a-half-year walk through the New Testament in the order the books were written. The congregation was working through 2 Peter, which Pastor Ray described as the hardest chapter in the Bible to preach, but Mother's Day called for a detour. Five years earlier on this same Sunday he had preached what the congregation remembers as the Lynyrd Skynyrd sermon. This year he arrived at the same occasion by a different road, opening with Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried" and the image of a son whose refusal to hear his mother's counsel landed him in prison at twenty-one.
The commandment from Exodus 20:12 sits at the center of the Ten Commandments, and Pastor Ray pointed out that placement deliberately. The first four commands describe how a person relates to God. The last six describe how a person relates to other people. Honor your father and your mother stands at the hinge, and it is the first commandment that comes with an explicit promise: that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land God is giving you. The promise is not decoration. Merle Haggard's narrator, Pastor Ray noted, turned twenty-one in prison because he could not listen to his mother. The connection is direct.
Paul restates the commandment in Ephesians 6, and Jesus takes it up in his confrontation with the Pharisees and scribes who had come from Jerusalem to challenge him. They accused his disciples of breaking tradition by not washing their hands. Jesus turned the question back on them: they had invented the Corban loophole, a rule that allowed a man to declare his resources dedicated to God and thereby escape the obligation to support his parents. Jesus called it making void the word of God for the sake of tradition, and reached for Isaiah to say that these people honor God with their lips while their hearts are far away. Pastor Ray let that exchange carry its own weight, observing that the strongest words Jesus ever spoke were directed at religious people misusing religion to avoid obedience.
Pastor Ray was direct about his own experience. His mother is, by his account, a wonderful woman, five feet tall to his six foot six, recently visiting, merciful and gentle in how she raised him. He is happy to honor her and said so plainly. But he did not stay there. He acknowledged that not everyone in the room shares that story, and he did not soften what the commandment asks of people whose experience was genuinely painful.
For those whose mothers were not good to them, Pastor Ray said the instruction is still the same, and the path forward is forgiveness. He described forgiveness using the Greek concept behind the New Testament word: release, letting go. He was careful to say this is hard preaching, not a light instruction, but he pressed it. He said he walks people through forgiveness more often than anything else in his pastoral work, and that five years ago when he issued a similar invitation, three people called him that week asking for help doing exactly that.
He closed by running through the one-another commands of the New Testament, framing them as what honoring a mother can look like in practice, especially when the relationship has been broken. Forgive one another as God in Christ has forgiven you. Bear one another's burdens. Do not repay evil for evil. Love one another. He noted that God took the first step in forgiving us before we moved toward him, and that the same pattern applies when we move toward a parent who harmed us. Taking that step, he said, releases the person doing the forgiving more than anyone else, and the body of the church is the community meant to help people get there.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- Pastor Ray talked about the fifth commandment sitting at the center of the Ten Commandments, right at the hinge between our duties to God and our duties to other people. What does that placement tell you about how God views the parent-child relationship?
- The sermon pointed out that the command to honor father and mother carries a promise attached to it, that things may go well with you and your days may be long. How have you seen that play out, for good or for ill, in your own life or in the lives of people around you?
and 3 more questions in the guide
Read the full transcript 7,238 words
Share this message
Every word on these came out of the message. Download one and post it anywhere.
