The Fifth Commandment

"Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."  Exodus 20:12

 

How do the next six commandments from Commandment Five to Commandment Ten differ in nature from the first four commandments?

 

These next six commandments differ from the first four because there is a new framework of relationships. The first four commandments dealt with our relationship to God and the next six deal with our relationships to one another. The relational scope of the Ten Commandments is for us to live in harmony with God AND at peace with other people.

 

The Fifth commandment tells children to obey their parents. This only seems to be written to children – or is there another way to apply this to us all as adults?

 

The fifth commandment ALSO teaches us how to understand and respect the nature of authority itself, as it brings order into our lives at many levels. God ordains authority to be instrumental as the ordering of our relational reality. In thus Commandment we see how life now becomes a series of lessons divinely designed starting with this commandment and through the following commandments to transform our hearts relationally till we learn to live in harmony and order with other people.

 

What are some other areas of responding to authority as we grow up?

 

After experiencing parental authority there is school life, and that is mentioned in the Bible. (Galatians 4:2)

Then a young adult comes under the authority of his employer in the work place (Colossians 3:22-4:1).

Then we all come under the authority of the State (Romans Ch.13).

There is also the authority structure of the Church (Hebrews 13:17).

 

Note: All of the above authority structures operate under a two way agreement between those in authority and those under authority – AND – All authority is under God Who also operates under a two way agreement with us through His Covenants.

 

Click here to see a chart showing the progression of the Commandments