Ten Words · Stop 3

What does it mean to honor parents and protect life?

The first three commandments are about God. The next seven are about the people around you, starting at home. Today you'll look at honoring the people who care for you, and protecting every life, including the life of someone who annoys you.

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Home and life

The fourth commandment says to honor your father and mother. Luther said it also covers others who care for us and lead us. Today that means grandparents, guardians, teachers, and coaches. Honor means respect, help, and love, even when you disagree.

Honoring parents never means doing something wrong because someone told you to. God never wants you to be unsafe. If someone at home, or anywhere, is hurting you, it is not your fault, and God does not want you to keep that secret. Tell a trusted adult.

The fifth commandment says not to murder. Jesus went further. He said anger and insults hurt people too. Luther said the commandment also asks us to help our neighbor in every need of body and life.

So it's a no to hurting and a yes to helping. That includes standing up for someone being bullied, and taking care of your own body too.

Read it in your Bible

Ephesians 6:1–4. Paul tells children to obey their parents in the Lord and to honor them. Then he turns to parents: don't make your children angry, but raise them with the Lord's care and teaching.
Matthew 5:21–24. Jesus says murder is not the whole story. Anger and insults do harm too. If someone has something against you, go and make peace with them first, then come back to worship.

The Fourth and Fifth Commandments, from Luther's Small Catechism

Honor your father and mother.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.

You shall not murder.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.

Words to know

Honor. What the fourth commandment asks us to give our parents and caregivers. Honor is respect and love. It never means doing wrong or staying unsafe.
Guardian. Someone who cares for a child in place of, or along with, a parent. Luther said the fourth commandment covers everyone who cares for us.
Anger. What Jesus said can break the fifth commandment even without violence. Anger is a feeling. What we do with it is where the harm starts.
Neighbor. Anyone God puts near you, whether you like them or not. Luther said we should help our neighbor in every need.
Reconcile. To make peace with someone after a hurt. Jesus said to go make peace before you bring your gift to God.