Decalogue, part 5 (Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22)

Scripture: Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22 (especially 16:18-20 and 17:14-20)

We are moving through Moses' delivery of the Law to Israel just before they finally enter the promised land. Each section generally corresponds to one of the Ten Commandments, in order, and today we've come to the section related to #5:

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you...


There's a lot we could say about the fifth commandment. The importance of family; the meaning of "honor"; the promise attached to the command; what to do when specific parents aren't worthy of honor...

But I want to instead follow the text, and explore how chapters 16-18 of Deuteronomy help give fuller meaning to this instruction. And I think this passage is tied to the commandment through a principle: it is right to obey the authority of and give honor to those God has given us as spiritual guides.

As we saw in the Shema, parents were tasked to "impress [God's words] on your children." It is on this assumption that the fifth commandment is based. Because our parents are our primary guides to knowing and loving God, we ought to honor them.

This connection, between obedience/honor and spiritual guidance, is fortified across the spectrum of ancient Israel's culture in these chapters. Here are three examples:

• The people must obey the priests and judges who arbitrate disputes (17:10), and meanwhile the judges must be impartial, above bribery, and righteous followers of God (16:18-20)
• The people will follow the leadership of their king (17:15), and meanwhile the king must refuse a wealth of money, possessions, or wives (17:16-17) and must learn the Scripture and fear the Lord (17:18-20)
• The people must heed the words of God's prophets (18:15), and meanwhile the prophet must only speak words truly from God (18:20-22)

While we are commanded to give honor and obedience to some, like parents, they are simultaneously commanded to lead in the ways of God.

Who has God given to you as "parents" in the faith? How can you show honor to those people this week?