The fifth commandment is the first one in the list that turns from God toward other people — and it begins at home: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you” (Exodus 20:12).
Paul noticed something about it when he wrote to the Ephesians. It is “the first commandment with a promise” (Ephesians 6:2-3). God attached a blessing to it.
When a rich young man asked Jesus which commandments to keep, Jesus included this one in his answer (Matthew 19:17-19). Honoring parents was never a minor rule.
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