Scriptural Studies

October 19,2020

Last week we studied commandment 5 Honor your father and mother.

Now I want to ask "What was the significance of the promise "You will live long in the land" associated with Commandment Five? How is it relevant today?

Marvin D Schrebe AKA Jamison Christian "Chris" Breva AAD RBA

I may not always be able to post each day but, I will try to be here as often as I can.

I posted the following link because it is such a clear idea of this commandment. The link is subject to old and new testament with specific reference to Old Testament, Talmud, and New Testament. It also features both Catholic, and Protestant ideology as well as historic Talmud teaching.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honour_thy_father_and_thy_mother

In this context God is making a promise to the people of Israel. Keeping the commandments and especially the fifth commandment will cause them to be rewarded by living and staying in the land God has provided for them. Historically, it was a dangerous place to live. Surrounding cities were often trying to over run the land of Israel. The people were subject to bandits who carried off people into slavery.

Culturally, The fifth commandment will incorporate other commandments; if parents who serve God teach their children the foundation thoughts: Obey God, Obey parents, Obey others last, in that order. Presumably, parents are going to warn children about all kinds of evil. God and parents are responsible for the life of the children.

In a literal sense, God is promising protection if the people obey his wishes concerning this commandment. Although, I think the commandments are a package deal. Because, your parents would teach you not to do all the others as well.

As for honoring your parents I liked what I read in the Wikipedia link. We often want to know specifics about laws and rules and this link tells you what ancient people believed. You need to help your parents by maintaining their life requirements food, water, homes.

At one time children and parents almost always maintained a home together. As parents aged the upkeep and foraging, farming, and other maintenance would then fall into the hands of children's generation.

This is where I think our own culture is falling down because children grow up and maintain their own homes. Often the tie between children and parents is broken by jobs or homes being maintained in opposite parts of the country. In this context often monetary gain from one generation to the next is not the same. Sometimes salaries are difficult to stretch over what is basically two different families. Children and societies have to learn how to juggle care for the elderly as it is still a priority in God's heart.

Generational gaps are created because of how fast technology and changing cultural growth is happening on the earth. One of the good things I see about Covid 19 is the sudden push to provide online education to the elderly. It helps the elderly understand the world as it changes.

I went to college at the age of 55 and graduated at the age of 60. Although I think it would have been good for my family if I had attended at an earlier age I still have to smile that both, one of my teen age grandchildren and myself, have fostered the phrase, "All they want to do is play games on their kindles."

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