Do Parents Deserve To Be Honored? A Must Read for Young Parents or Those Planning To Have a Family

do parents deserved to be honored?

the ten commandments provides an obligation for children to honor their father and mother.

the torah also places obligations for parents with respect to their children.

there are several provisions of the torah that lays out parental responsibilities.

deuteronomy 6:7, provides that “..you shall teach them to your sons and speak of them [commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances that the lord, your god, commanded to teach you, to perform in the land into which you are about to pass, to possess it.] when you sit in your house, and when you walk on the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” note: the parentheses provide what was being referred to when the word them was used.]

the second provision is deuteronomy 6:20, which provides “if your son asks you in time to come, saying, “what are the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances, which the lord our God has commanded you?” you shall say to your son, “we were slaves to pharaoh in egypt, and the lord took us out of egypt with a strong hand. and the lord gave signs and wonders, great and terrible, upon egypt, upon pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes. and he brought us out of there, in order that he might bring us and give us the land which he swore to our fathers. and the lord commanded us to perform all these statutes, to fear the lord, our god, for our good all the days, to keep us alive, as of this day. and it will be for our merit that we keep to observe all these commandments before the lord, our god, as he has commanded us.”

thus, parents have an educational responsibilities towards their children.

by these responsibilities, the torah creates a circular paradigm. parents have the obligation to teach their children the laws of the torah. within the laws of the torah, there is the provision to honor your father and mother. honor comes to parents from knowledgeable children.

thus, if parents wish to be honored, it is incumbent on them to teach their children the ten commandments and the laws of the torah.

morals and values are not spontaneously embedded in children. they are learned. how can a child be expected to comply with the commandment unless they know to do so?

if you are a parent or wishing to be one and concerned about whether you will be honored by your children, the first step is to teach your children the ten commandments. you are encouraged to teach beyond the ten commandments. you should consider additional religious education for your children. if you feel unqualified to do so, search out a religious school to assist.

it is important to remember that children do not roll out of the womb fully versed in the need to honor their father and mother. thus, as a parent it is incumbent to impress it upon them.

the bottom line: as a parent, you should never expect to be honored by your children if you do not take the time to teach them ten commandments morals and values.

be well!

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