The family relationship is the key in this commandment to "honor."  This word means more than to just obey, although it encompasses it as well, but it means to bring 'glory, dignity, and respect' to the two people who gave birth to us.

Behind this commandment is a profound foundation that the honor due parents is likened to that of YAHWEH Himself, since they are His partners in the creation of children. Fathers and mothers are not merely a 'means to an end' in a child's formation; they are essential in the awesome process of teaching by example and word all about our heavenly Father.

So, what does it mean, specifically to you, or me? To honor is not something we can do on just the weekends or on a quick visit home now and then. The process of honoring our folks begins there but in GOD's eyes it requires a lifetime of commitment.

Some may ask, "How can I 'honor' my parents who have abused me? Surely GOD doesn't mean I am still to honor them?"

We all realize there are some parents who don't seem to deserve any honor, especially the kind spoken of here. Everyone knows of families where the parents are seemingly vile, nasty-tempered individuals, whose children oft times are abused - either physically or verbally. Does GOD really expect those children to honor the parents who are like that? The answer is 'yes.'  We need to remember that this law is not based on what our parents deserve, but on what our heavenly Father has commanded.

Bottom line, regardless of the kind of parents we have, our heavenly Father wants us to do everything we can to express to them honor.

In Isaiah 55:8 it says that GOD's "ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts." So when we come up with parents that are less than the ideal, we must trust that our heavenly Father is still in control and that He has our best interest in mind.

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