Honoring Parents You Disagree With
Respect that is not agreement.
On the commandment nobody finds easy.
The big idea
Honour is something you give. Agreement is something you may not be able to give.
Opening scripture
“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
What does “Honoring Parents You Disagree With” walk through?
Honour Your Father And Mother
Exodus 20:12 · KJV
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
In plain English
Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Honour Is Not Obedience Forever
The command is given to adults as well as children, which tells you it cannot only mean doing as you are told. Honour is a posture that survives disagreement.
The First With A Promise
Ephesians 6:2 · KJV
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
In plain English
Honour your father and mother — the first commandment that comes with a promise.
“You can hold a different view and still speak to someone with dignity.”
Soft Answers
Proverbs 15:1 · KJV
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
In plain English
A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs it up.
Tone Is Most Of It
Many family arguments are not about the issue. They are about how the issue got said. You control that half entirely.
Pray
God, let me disagree without dishonour. Amen.
Write it down
Where could you change your tone without changing your view?
Honour anyway
Respect is not the same as surrender.
Which passages does this journey use?
3 passages, drawn from Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:2, Proverbs 15:1. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 6 minutes for the whole thing, or 7 short sittings.
- Exodus 20:12
- Ephesians 6:2
- Proverbs 15:1
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
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