Just as we are called to honor our father and mother, so we understand that YHVH is our Heavenly Father, and the reciprocity of respect shown to Him will be demonstrated in the way we show respect to our parents. God then saved this extra blessing for the second set of tablets (Bava Kamma 54b). The repetition of the commandment includes the phrase, "so that it may go well for you":Īccording to midrash, God knew that the first tablets were going to be destroyed, and He did not want the Israelites to despair that their hope for a good life would be shattered with these tablets. The Apostle is actually quoting from the second version of the Ten Commandments given in the book of Deuteronomy (this second version is said to include the text of the second set of tablets that Moses wrote). "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." (Eph 6:1-3) The Apostle Paul quotes the Fifth Commandment in his letter to the Ephesians:Ĭhildren, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. In Jewish tradition, this is sometimes referred to as kibbud Av v'Em, honoring your parents and their culture. Respecting your parents ensures that succeeding generations will accept the teachings of their elders, too. Devotion to one's parents is also a sign of respect shown to one's culture and identity, ensuring the perpetuation of both. Conversely, disrespecting one's parents results in judgment from the LORD, even a shortened life (this is an example of midah k'neged midah (measure for measure) judgment). The reward for honoring your parents is long life. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. The full pasuk (verse) of the Fifth Commandment reads: The first four mitzvot tell us about God and it is only through obedience to these commandments that we are able to really understand our own identity - as well as the identity of others in our family, our community, and our world. 1:27), so children are to regard their parents as divinely ordained and truly significant. Just as He created both man and woman in His image (Gen. The LORD intended that the mishpachah (family) would picture His relationship with us. The child must never shame his parents, never bring them any pain or heartache never display anger toward them. There is no limit to the honor that is due to them, and often obedience to this commandment is taxing. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said that "the most difficult of all the mitzvot is to honor your father and mother" (Tachuma, Ekev 2). A person should recognize that his parents are the cause of his life in the world and it is therefore proper to love and respect them. They also represent God in the life of the small child, functioning as primary caregiver and teacher. Our parents resemble the Creator, since they were God's partners in creation of the child. When we likewise honor our father and mother, the LORD says, "I reckon it as though I dwelled with them and they honored Me" (Kiddushin 31a). The meaning of kabed in this context derives from the preceding verses (i.e., the first four commandments) which center on honoring God Himself. The importance of this mitzvah cannot be overstated, since the word translated "honor" ( kabed) derives from a root word meaning "weighty" (in terms of impressiveness or importance) and is often used to refer to the glory of God. The commandment to honor our parents is therefore basic to all other social relationships and is the foundation for decent human society. The Fifth Commandment marks a transition from the first four (which have to do with our vertical relationship with the LORD) to the following five (which have to do with our horizontal relationship with others).
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