What is the meaning of Honor thy Mother and thy Father?

[You]

I am happy to have found this post. Last night I read, in the book of Mark, a passage that confused me. Mark 7: 10 - 13

*For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." *

Some of the earlier posters have questioned how to honor someone (parents in this case) who do not honor them. God is a just God. I truly believe this. So, how can it be ok for children to honor parents but it not be the other way around (parents respecting their children). Honor and respect may hold different meanings for some and be similar for others but all in all, I feel that the feelings should be mutual all around.

How can Mark’s words be interpreted then? ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death’ (NIV). Wow! I even looked up the other translations and all mention death of some sort. I’m really confused on how to interpret this and also confused on the ‘fairness’ of it all. How can it be justified that ‘this group of people can dishonor/disrespect their kids’ but Lord help those youths who disobey their parents in return, they will die at the hands of death.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut and God bless~

I think he was looking for a contrast, i.e., in Moses’ day you’d have been put to death for cursing parents, but you on the other hand now use God Himself as an excuse for not helping your parents… …and what do you think will happen to you for that?

 

[jcrichton]

You better reread the 10 commandments, its 10 not 9.
Jesus Christ did not give sole authority to the catholic church as the sole interpreter.
Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit is our intersessor and would teach us what Jesus had taught us in the bible.
I read the bible and there are alot of man made doctrine in the catholic church as well as the other man made church organizations.
Anyone who can read and understand the bible can interpret the Word of God. I understood it at age 10 and realized the church was lying to me.
I don’t submit to man made doctrine, But I do submit to the will of God through Jesus Christ.
I mean no offense, just to teach truth

…so you are the pope of no church?

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

I am happy to have found this post. Last night I read, in the book of Mark, a passage that confused me. Mark 7: 10 - 13

*For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." *

Some of the earlier posters have questioned how to honor someone (parents in this case) who do not honor them. God is a just God. I truly believe this. So, how can it be ok for children to honor parents but it not be the other way around (parents respecting their children). Honor and respect may hold different meanings for some and be similar for others but all in all, I feel that the feelings should be mutual all around.

How can Mark’s words be interpreted then? ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death’ (NIV). Wow! I even looked up the other translations and all mention death of some sort. I’m really confused on how to interpret this and also confused on the ‘fairness’ of it all. How can it be justified that ‘this group of people can dishonor/disrespect their kids’ but Lord help those youths who disobey their parents in return, they will die at the hands of death.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut and God bless~

I think that the problem we have is that our generosity knows bounds: “you scratch my back…”

Our mercy is based on reciprocity: “what can I get/hold over so and so…?”

Christ gave us a clue as to where we should seek understanding (St. Matthew 5:1 through 7:29–specifically: St. Matthew 5:43-48); it is through sharing God’s Mercy and Love that we can convict others (specially those in our immediate family) of God’s Mercy and Love… how difficult is it to be kind to those who are kind to us? How difficult is to forgive those who could repay us in material wealth or goods?

When we honor someone… we do not do it only if that person has been kind and generous to us… when we honor someone it is God Whom we are Honoring!

Is it easy? No. Seldomly does putting our ego second comes easily… that’s why Jesus coined the Golden Rule: Love Yahweh God above all and your neighbor as yourself–we must do both and both are ego deflating!

…past pain/hurts… that’s the most difficult situation… loving and forgiving those that have hurt us in the past or who are still bent on hurting us is the toughest barrier to love and forgiveness… when that person is a parent or offspring or sibling or spouse… Heaven help us!

…we must begin at the Beginning: Love God Above All… every relationship that we engage in must include God… the pain may be intense but not unconquerable… the hurt might go deep but God’s Love goes deeper and it is medicinal–it cures all that ails us!

…when we are ready to begin… slowly and manageable… a simple start could be shutting down the ego: not fuiling the event (argument, physical/mental abuse…) and involve silent prayers (sharing Scriptures or praying outloud might be seen as an offensive mechanism)… mark everything in Christ ("this reminds me of Christ’s “X”); eventually we can start sharing Scriptures… never accept compensation; never debase the other person/s… always end everything with a catch phrase (“Jesus loves you!” or “May God watch over you!” or something in that vein); nothing will work if we are not true to God and ourselves…

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[VivianMaria]

now THATS a good answer!

catholic.com/quickquestions/what-does-honor-your-father-and-your-mother-mean-if-the-parents-are-abusive-does-this

 

[sirach2v4]

I read the bible and there are alot of man made doctrine in the catholic church as well as the other man made church organizations.
Anyone who can read and understand the bible can interpret the Word of God.

…that’s why there are a lot of interpretations, anyplace you look - naturally.

The commandment to honor our father and mother is a very general one and there are upper limits to it.

There’s no official numbering of the commandments, so arguing about that is a waste of time. It’s better to read the Bible to read all the words, not just the shortened versions that we are taught to memorize.

Nevertheless, the commandments fall into two groups on the basis of wording. The first group contains the words “the LORD your God” whereas the second group do not have that wording.

that suggests (strongly) that those first commandments are related to honoring God. I could list all my parents’ faults because I saw them so clearly. I’ll take the extreme position as say that we are to honor our parents in spite of their faults.

They may make it difficult – and sometimes certainly impossible – to honor them as we are commanded to do. And, it may be difficult to rid ourselves of those thoughts about them that keep flooding back in our minds.

A Jewish commentary on morals says we are to go to great lengths to honor them, even in their old age, up to and including providing shelter and food for them, and visiting them so that they are not lonely. This book advises that a nursing home may be the means to meet their basic needs.

In today’s world, perhaps as it always has been, we should not be afraid of getting old and we should make our parents not suffer from that fear, especially we who have hope in the resurrection.