The fourth Commandment — most confusing one ever in my life

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melvfe

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The Fourth Commandment states that you’re to obey your parents.

So I’m in a dilemma here.

Dad says, “Jo, don’t drink that glass of wine.”
Clearly, this is an order that Jo must fulfil under the Commandment.

But is the following statement under the Fourth Commandment?
Dad says, “Jo, you can drink that glass of wine. But if you get drunk, I’m not going to help you.”
 
Actually, it says to honor your father and your mother.

But I don’t see the problem with your example. In the first statement, Dad is telling Jo what not to do. In the second, Dad is just warning Jo what will happen if Jo gets drunk. It’s not an order or command.
 
I guess you could avoid the fourth Commandment altogether and FF to the seventh by adding a couple of words to your example:
Dad says, “Jo, don’t drink that glass of wine - it’s mine.”

FWIW in 6 Ephesians, St. Paul appears to equate obedience with honouring one’s mother and father. However children are not to be provoked by their parents:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is just. Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with a promise: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest be long lived upon earth. And you, fathers, provoke not your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and correction of the Lord.

On the subject of the fourth Commandment: we also have a Heavenly Father and a heavenly Mother.
 
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Does this mean that the 4th Commandment can be disregarded if a child is provoked by their parents to obey them in anger?
 
melvfe said:
Dad says, “Jo, don’t drink that glass of wine.”

Clearly, this is an order that Jo must fulfil under the Commandment.
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If Jo is a minor, under her parents’ authority, yes.
melvfe said:
But is the following statement under the Fourth Commandment?

Dad says, “Jo, you can drink that glass of wine. But if you get drunk, I’m not going to help you.”
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Well, it would depend on the context; I think in most cases it would involve certain implications as to what the parent’s wishes are, which should be honoured. But by itself, it’s not a command that demands obedience.
melvfe said:
Does this mean that the 4th Commandment can be disregarded if a child is provoked by their parents to obey them in anger?
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Can you clarify here?
 
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Lots of other things at play - which country the child lives in, how old the child is what the father’s marks were in grade 3 (well okay - maybe not that last one) . . .

I believe our Blessed Mother is not particularly pleased if I personally drink alcohol . But She never said it as a command , She just let me know in her own gentle way and reminded me that She is the Mother of all Grace.

God Bless.
 
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Can a child disregard the Fourth Commandment if he/she was already provoked by her parents and so would be obeying them out of anger?
 
Are you asking whether Thou shalt be dysfunctional or Thou shalt not be dysfunctional ?

Sorry - I’m falling asleep at the screen here- time for sleep.

Good luck with this.
 
HAHAHA!!! Actually I am providing a hypothetical example. The scenario in my real life has the same principle, ie instruction v subtle (?) threat. But right now, it’s not got to do with alcohol.
 
Disobedience - to your parents - in the Old Testament -
That meant to die -
To be brought out of camp - and stoned - and N O T by wine.
 
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Then, why is my Godparent (who is a priest) telling me that I have an obligation to obey my parents?
 
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This one, I don’t know… But my parents are almost ALWAYS with me wherever I go (except in classrooms) since I am disabled. So… maybe that might have affected my Godparent’s thinking process?

Cos I have a Godsister around my age and she’s treated like a normal adult…
 
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Must my parents be around? I find like all the adults around me treat me like a child because of the way my parents treat me. For example, when adults talk to me, my parents will answer for me even though I am answering these adults’ questions.
 
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Even I don’t know whether my sister is being treated like a child; my parents ferry her to and from work…
 
I’ve been praying for Jo for years, but he just keeps falling back into his bad habits.
😎
 
melvfe said:
Must my parents be around?
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No. You are an adult. You are NOT obligated to have them in any of your business. You are not obligated under the fourth commandment to obey them.

Seek help from government agencies who assist the disabled in living independently.
 
melvfe said:
Can a child disregard the Fourth Commandment if he/she was already provoked by her parents and so would be obeying them out of anger?
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For this one, I wonder if it would be expressed more clearly, if one were to say that we obey them out of respect but that we’re angry about having to do it ?
 
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