Let the godly sing for joy to the LORD;
it is fitting for the pure to praise
Him.
Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre;
make music for Him on the ten-stringed
harp.
Sing a new song of praise to Him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing
with joy.
For the word of the LORD holds true,
and we can trust everything He does.
He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the LORD fills the
earth.
Psalm 33:1-5 (NLT)
“The glory of life is to love, not to be loved; to give, not to get; to serve, not to be served.”
– Unknown –
And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.’ For Moses said, ‘Honor you father and mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death.'” Mark 7:6, 10 (NASB)
Both Jesus and the Pharisees, to whom He was speaking, agreed that the Law required children to honor their parents (Exodus 20:12). A severe punishment was to be administered to anyone who spoke harshly against his or her parents (Leviticus 20:9). However, though the Pharisees gave lip service to this command, they cleverly managed to violate its intent (Mark 7:11-21). Because they avoided their responsibilities, Jesus charged them with hypocrisy.
Even among Christians, we occasionally hear of family squabbles over who will “get stuck with” mom or dad. It is clear that honoring aged parents must involve visiting them, encouraging them, sympathizing with their woes, and generally exhibiting love and gratitude toward them. Nursing homes and care centers serve an important role; but they must never take the place of our exercising personal care. Honoring one’s father and mother means much more than just showing respect for them verbally.
