Reason for Enforcing the Fifth Commandment Biblically
The enforcement of the Fifth Commandment, "Honor your father and your mother," is rooted in several biblical principles, primarily revolving around the nature of God, the covenant relationship between God and humanity, and the societal order established by divine law. This commandment, like the others in the Decalogue, is not merely an arbitrary rule but reflects God's character and his design for human flourishing [5].
One fundamental reason for enforcing this commandment is that it is part of God's divine law, which is given for the good of humanity. The Ten Commandments, or "Ten Words," were delivered with immense awe and solemnity, underscoring their importance as a direct attestation of God's will [5]. Obedience to God's commands is presented as an expression of love for God [2]. John Gill notes that keeping God's commandments is a natural response to his bountiful provision and fatherly care, which obligates individuals to obey him [6]. Matthew Henry emphasizes that these commandments are repeated because "precept must be upon precept, and line upon line," indicating the ongoing need for instruction and the renewal of their impressions on the mind [8].
The Fifth Commandment specifically addresses duties within familial relationships, particularly those of children to their parents [10]. This is seen as a foundational aspect of righteousness towards others, which is intrinsically linked to true religion and godliness [10]. The structure of the Decalogue places this command as the first of the "second table," which concerns duties to oneself and others, serving as a commentary on the broader principle of loving one's neighbor as oneself [10].
Disobedience to God's commandments, including the Fifth, is consistently presented in scripture as a breach of the covenant relationship with God and a cause for divine judgment [13]. For instance, Israel's failure to keep God's orders and laws led to consequences such as famine [1, 4]. The prophets, like Malachi, called Israel to faithfulness in worship and obedience, with tithing serving as a symbol of this commitment [11]. Amos also linked Israel's deplorable condition to their sin and failure to seek the Lord and love good [12].
The New Testament reinforces the importance of obedience to God's commands. Tyndale House notes that the realization of the law in Christ means that obedience to all his commands is the only acceptable response for his disciples [7]. While the Old Testament law promised long life and prosperity for obedience, Paul clarifies that if one seeks to be right with God through the law, perfect obedience to all its commands is required [9]. However, the goal of the command is love, stemming from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith [3].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 105:45 (BBE) — So that they might keep his orders, and be true to his laws. Give praise to the Lord.”
- I John “I John 5:3 (BSB) — For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,”
- 1 Timothy “but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith; -- 1 Timothy 1:5”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Famine — Sent by God -- Ps 10:16. Often on account of sin -- Le 26:21,26; La 4:4-6. One of God's four sore judgments -- Eze 14:21. Caused by God's blessing withheld. -- Ho 2:8,9; Hag 1:6. Want of seasonable rain. -- 1Ki 17:1; Jer 14:1-4; Am 4:7. Rotting of the seed in the ground. -- Joe 1:17. Swarms of insects. -- De 28:38,42; Joe 1:4. Blasting and mildew. -- Am 4:9; Hag 2:17. Devastation by enemies. -- De 28:33,51. Often long continued -- Ge 41:27; 2Ki 8:1,2. Often severe -- Ge 12:10; 1Ki 18:2; Jer 52:6. Expressed by Taking away the stay of bread, & c. -- Isa 3:1. C”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Ten Commandments — The popular name in this, as in so many instances, is not that of Scripture. There we have the "TEN WORDS," (Exodus 34:28; 4:13; 10:4) the "[1215]Covenant," Ex., Deut. 11. cc.; (1 Kings 8:21; 2 Chronicles 6:11) etc., or, very often as the solemn attestation of the divine will, the "TESTIMONY." (Exodus 25:16,21; 31:18) etc. The circumstances in which the Ten great Words were first given to the people surrounded them with an awe which attached to no other precept. In the midst of the cloud and the darkness and the flashing lightning and the fiery smok”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 8:5: Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God,.... Not only because they are the commands of God, and of a covenant God and Father, which are reasons sufficient for the observance of them; but because the Lord had dealt so bountifully with them, in providing food and raiment for them in the wilderness, which always continued with them; and because, when he afflicted them, it was a fatherly chastisement, with great tenderness and compassion, and for their good; all which laid them under obligations to keep the commands of God, whatsoever he had enj”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:19: 5:19 The realization of the law in Christ means that obedience to all of his commands (see 28:20) is the only acceptable response for his disciples. • Commandment refers to the Old Testament commands (5:18) as now fulfilled in Christ’s teaching (see 5:21-48). • the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus may mean that such an individual will enter the Kingdom, but only barely and with low status; alternatively, some Jewish evidence suggests that he is referring to damnation (cp. 8:12, where “those for whom the Kingdom was prepared” are eternally excluded).”
- Deuteronomy (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 5:6: Here is the repetition of the ten commandments, in which observe, 1. Though they had been spoken before, and written, yet they are again rehearsed; for precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, and all little enough to keep the word of God in our minds and to preserve and renew the impressions of it. We have need to have the same things often inculcated upon us. See Phi 3:1. 2. There is some variation here from that record (Ex. 20), as there is between the Lord's prayer as it is in Mt. 6 and as it is Lu. 11. In both it is more necessary that we tie our”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 10:5: 10:5 requires obedience to all of its commands: See Lev 18:5, where these words encouraged the Israelites to obey the law in order to enjoy long life and prosperity in the land that God was giving them (see also Lev 26:3-13; Deut 28:1-14). Paul sees the implication that if people want to be right with God through the law, they can only do so by obeying all of it.”
- Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 20:12: We have here the laws of the second table, as they are commonly called, the last six of the ten commandments, comprehending our duty to ourselves and to one another, and constituting a comment upon the second great commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. As religion towards God is an essential branch of universal righteousness, so righteousness towards men is an essential branch of true religion. Godliness and honesty must go together. I. The fifth commandment concerns the duties we owe to our relations; those of children to their parents are alone”
- Malachi (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Malachi 3:6: 3:6-12 Malachi’s fifth message echoes the first (1:2-5) by emphasizing God’s faithfulness to his promises. He calls Israel to a similar faithfulness in worship, especially in giving their tithes and offerings. If Malachi is a courtroom drama, the fifth message is the judge’s verdict. The real message is repentance—God wants honest and sincere worship from his people, of which tithing is a symbol.”
- Amos (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Amos 5 (introduction): The scope of this chapter is to prosecute the exhortation given to Israel in the close of the foregoing chapter to prepare to meet their God; the prophet here tells them, I. What preparation they must make; they must "seek the Lord," and not seek any more to idols (Amo 5:4-8); they must seek good, and love it (Amo 5:14, Amo 5:15). II. Why they must make this preparation to meet their God, 1. Because of the present deplorable condition they were in (Amo 5:1-3). 2. Because it was by sin that they were brought into such a condition (Amo 5:7, Amo 5:10-12). 3”
- Ezekiel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ezekiel 5:5: 5:5-6 The reason for God’s judgment on his people is made abundantly clear: Israel had broken its covenant relationship with God.”