I am in my county’s Senior Group.
I see so many elderly people that have been abandoned by their children.
I myself have lost 2 children to a controlling cult church who’s leader forbids them from contacting me.
I present this study on the importance of keeping Yahweh's 5th commandment. What it means, the promises associated with it and the penalty for those who break it.
📜 The 5th Commandment
“Honor Your Father and Your Mother”
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which Yahweh your God is giving you.”
1. 📖 What Does “Honor” Mean?
The Hebrew word for honor is “kābad” (כָּבַד) — meaning:
- To give weight or value
- To treat as important
- To respect, obey, and care for
Honor Includes:
- Obedience (especially in youth)
- Respect in speech and attitude
- Care in their old age
- Not bringing shame upon them
Proverbs 1:8
“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
2. 🏠 Yahweh’s Design Behind It
This command is not just about family—it is about order, authority, and learning obedience to Yahweh Himself.
- The family is the first place of instruction
- Respect for parents teaches respect for:
- Authority
- Law
- Yahweh
Deuteronomy 6:6–7
Parents are commanded to teach Yahweh’s ways diligently to their children.
3. 🌿 The Promise Attached (Very Important)
This is the first commandment with a promise.
Ephesians 6:2–3
“Honor your father and mother… that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
Promises:
- ✔️ Long life
- ✔️ Things go well (blessing, stability)
- ✔️ Peace in life
This is not random—Yahweh ties life outcomes to how we treat parents.
4. ⚠️ The Seriousness of Disobedience
In Scripture, dishonoring parents is treated as a very serious sin.
Under the Law:
Exodus 21:17
“He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.”
Deuteronomy 21:18–21
The rebellious son who refuses correction faced severe judgment.
Why so severe?
Because rebellion against parents reflects:
- Rebellion against authority
- Ultimately, rebellion against Yahweh
5. 🚫 Warning Signs of a Corrupt Generation
Dishonoring parents is listed as a mark of societal breakdown.
2 Timothy 3:1–2
“In the last days… men will be… disobedient to parents…”
This is not a small issue—it is a sign of deep spiritual decay.
6. 💔 How People Break This Command Today
Not just open rebellion—many break it subtly:
- Ignoring or abandoning aging parents
- Speaking disrespectfully
- Rejecting their wisdom without cause
- Allowing others to separate families
- Rewriting history to justify dishonor
Mark 7:9–13
Yeshua condemned those who avoided caring for parents under religious excuses.
7. ⚖️ Balance: When Parents Teach Their Children Wrong
Honoring does not mean blind obedience in sin.
Acts 5:29
“We must obey Yahweh rather than men.”
Balance:
- Obey Yahweh first
- Still honor parents in attitude and conduct
You can disagree without dishonoring.
8. 🔥 The Deeper Spiritual Meaning
This command points beyond family:
- Yahweh is our ultimate Father
- Learning to honor parents prepares us to honor Him
Rejecting rightful authority leads to:
- Lawlessness
- Spiritual blindness
- Judgment
9. 🌿 Summary (Simple and Direct)
The 5th Commandment teaches:
- Honor = respect, obedience, care, and value
- It is foundational to all authority structures
- It carries a direct promise of long life and well-being
- Breaking it brings serious consequences and judgment
- It reflects your relationship with Yahweh
📌 Final Thought
This command is not just about childhood—it applies for life.
How a person treats their parents is one of the clearest indicators of:
- Their character
- Their humility
- Their relationship with Yahweh
—————
This part of the study is so important. We need to obey Yahweh rather than a man or a “church”
⚖️ When Loyalty to a Leader Causes Dishonor to Parents
📖 The Principle of the 5th Commandment Still Stands
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother…”
This command is not conditional on:
- Church membership
- Leadership demands
- Religious pressure
No human authority has the right to override what Yahweh commanded.
🚫 When a Leader Tells You to Cut Off Your Parents
If a leader or group teaches:
- “Do not speak to your parents”
- “Separate from your family to stay faithful”
- “They are not worthy of your contact”
➡️ This directly contradicts Yahweh’s command.
📖 What Yeshua Actually Taught (Often Misused)
Some groups misuse this passage:
Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate father and mother…”
What it does NOT mean:
- It does NOT mean literal hatred
- It does NOT mean abandoning or dishonoring parents
Proof from Scripture:
Mark 7:9–13
Yeshua rebuked those who used religion to avoid caring for parents.
👉 He condemned religious systems that break the 5th Commandment
⚠️ A Critical Test of False Leadership
A true servant of Yahweh will:
- Strengthen families
- Encourage honor and reconciliation
- Promote care for parents
A false leader will:
- Divide families
- Demand loyalty to himself over Yahweh’s commands
- Justify dishonor in the name of “obedience”
Matthew 7:16
“You will know them by their fruits.”
👉 Broken families are bad fruit.
🔥 What Yahweh Says About Those Who Lead Others Into Sin
Ezekiel 34:2–4
Woe to shepherds who feed themselves and harm the flock.
Matthew 18:6
Whoever causes one of these to stumble—it would be better…
Leading someone to dishonor parents = causing them to sin
⚖️ The Right Order of Authority
Acts 5:29
“We must obey Yahweh rather than men.”
Order:
- Yahweh
- His commandments
- All human authority (including religious leaders)
👉 If a leader contradicts Yahweh, he must not be followed
💔 What This Means in Real Life
If someone:
- Stops speaking to parents because a leader told them to
- Treats parents as enemies to prove loyalty
- Chooses a group over honoring father and mother
➡️ That is dishonor, even if it is done “religiously”
📌 The Hard Truth
No matter how spiritual it sounds:
“Obey the leader over your parents”
= Breaking the 5th Commandment
🌿 The Balanced Truth
- You do NOT follow parents into sin
- But you STILL:
- Speak with respect
- Maintain honor
- Show care
👉 You can stand for truth without dishonoring them
🔎 A Simple Test
Ask this:
“Is this teaching causing me to honor my parents…
or to withdraw, reject, and dishonor them?”
If it leads to dishonor → it is not from Yahweh
📜 Final Statement (Strong & Clear)
Any leader, church, or group that requires you to abandon, reject, or dishonor your parents is leading you to break Yahweh’s command.
And no true obedience to Yahweh ever requires disobedience to His commandments.
