After completing the lesson the student will be able to:
Know what the 4th Commandment is.
Know what the 4th Commandment means for our lives.
List specific ways in which children show honor to their parents.
Name others beside your parents who have authority in your lives.
Be able to identify when disobedience may be appropriate.
Explain why a blessing is added to the Commandment.
Identify who our ‘neighbor’ is.

This week’s lesson begins our look to the 2nd Table of the 10 Commandments. Remember, that the 1st Table (Commandments 1-3) emphasize our relationship and duty unto God, while in this the 2nd Table (Commandments 4-10), emphasis is placed upon our relationship and duty unto our fellow man.

In the 1st Table, we have learned what God’s will is for our lives. We are taught that there is only ONE true God, and that we are to fear, love, and obey Him. We are taught how to rightly honor and use His name—by prayer, worship, thanksgiving, and offering praise. And we have learned that we are to have a special day set apart for the worship of God and the learning of His Word. This is to be a day of rest from other activities and endeavors and we are to focus upon fellowship with our Lord and rest unto our bodies.

The 2nd Table teaches us that you are to love your neighbor as yourself. As the First Table explains our love to God, the Second explains our love for man. It is important to note that these are not two, separate loves. If you truly love God, you will truly love your neighbor, and if you truly love your neighbor, you will truly lovely God. This is God’s will for us—Love for Him and love for our neighbor!

It is important to understand that while this commandment deals directly with our parents, the principle of respect for authority in general also applies. In the sphere of our homes, parents act as God’s representatives on earth. In our public lives, another authority comes into play, the civil government. In our schools, another authority is present—teachers, principles, and such. In the places we work, another authority comes into play—our bosses or employers. Many people dislike the idea of authority, but let us remember it is God’s way of promoting order and security in our world. Instead of going against authority, we are to submit, honor, and pray for those placed over us.

 In this commandment God forbids us to despise our parents and others He has placed over us by disregarding their place of honor and authority or by provoking them to anger by our own disobedience and sin. We despise our parents when we do not view them as God’s representatives, but look down, mock, ridicule, and disrespect them, or when we are ashamed of them. We provoke our parents when we intentionally disobey, backtalk, resist, or rebel against them.

It is important to remember as well how much our parents have done for us and continue to do for us. From your earliest days as a helpless infant (and even before you were born), your parents were caring for you and loving you. In light of their sacrifice on your behalf, both then and now, it is right and good that we would respect, love, cherish, and willingly obey them. We should do so not grudgingly or with an attitude of grumpiness, but out of love and appreciation for what they have done for us. I believe as well that as our parents grow older, it is our privilege to care for them. Even if this is an inconvenience or a financial or personal sacrifice, the Bible would have us care for them as best as we are able.

It is important as well to consider what the Bible tells us of our parents’ duty and responsibility for their children. They are called upon by God to love, cherish, pray, discipline, teach and train in the Lord, and in everything to seek their temporal and spiritual good. Often what children consider “dumb”, “bad”, or “harsh” on the part of their parents is actually intended for their own good. Rules and guidelines are established not to harm you, but to protect you from yourself and from others. Being a parent is one of life’s greatest responsibilities and callings, and certainly requires the grace and wisdom of God—and being a son or daughter requires much the same as well!

The Fourth Commandment is the first and only commandment with a special promise added. In doing so, I believe God is showing the great importance He places upon our obedience to this command to obey our parents. This promise does not automatically mean that every obedient child will live to be 100 years old, but it does mean that they will be blessed and looked upon with favor by God. And in the vast majority of cases, where children are disrespectful and disobedient regarding their parents, there follows in their lives various hardships, difficulties, and trials. I believe that as we honor our parents, God’s special blessings will follow us through our lives. And of course the opposite is also true—if we disobey, dishonor, and disregard our parents, God’s punishment will follow us through our lives.