This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘The Ten Commandments’. Her main scriptures were taken from the book Exodus 20:1-26; Luke 15:11-32

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS – INTRODUCTION

The Ten Commandments are ten laws that God Himself gave to the ancient nation of Israel thru His servant Moses. These Biblical principles apply to men’s relationship with God and with one another. If all people on earth keep at least one of these commandments, the world will be a better place. These Commandments were spoken directly by God at Mount Sinai and written by God’s finger on tablets of stone and given to Moses. This act makes them unique in the Bible. These Ten Laws are commands and not suggestions. They are personal, spoken to individuals.

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT – HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER

“Honor (respect, obey, care for) your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged in the land the LORD your God gives you” (Ex 20:12; AMP). This is the fifth commandment among the Ten Commandments. The first four guide us in our relationship with God. This is the first command about our relationship with other people. It starts with family relationships. The main reason why we honor our parents is because we want to be like Jesus, to honor God, our Heavenly Father! The benefit of honoring our parents is that God blesses us with land and long life. “Home is the university of life with parents as the professors, children as students, and life as the lab” (Adrian Rogers).

The Dictionary says that ‘honor’ means to regard someone with great respect or high esteem. You honor the one you like and admire. Honor is having a good name. A good reputation goes with honor. Honor is a privilege. Honor brings happiness, pride, and pleasure. Honor is gained thru excellent moral character and great achievements. There is no deceit in an honorable man.  First, we are commanded to honor God. Then, we honor our parents, our spiritual leaders, and others. Honoring God is done by obeying His Word, praying, attending church activities, submitting to the delegated spiritual authority, and living a life that gives glory to God. Marriage is an honorable institution (Heb 13:4). A humble man with a clear conscience is honorable. “Humility comes before honor” (PV 15:33). Serving Jesus is rewarded with honor from heaven. Disobeying God’s Word means dishonoring God. That brings a curse. God says: “those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant and contemptible” (1Sam 2:30; AMP). Jesus says: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor” (Jn 12:26). Only a true Christian can honor and serve God! Selah!

What does it mean to “honor thy father and mother?” We honor our parents as we obey them, show them respect, and accept their authority. This is God’s command to guide the relationship between parents and children. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:1-4). The children obey their parents ‘in the Lord’. This means that both the children and their parents are saved. They are one in Christ. They must behave as children of God. Because Jesus obeyed God the Father, the children must behave like Jesus. This is the right, holy thing to do. The parents have the responsibility to train and disciple their children as pastors in the family. They should not use excessive force, rude language, discrimination, or manipulation, so that the children will not be ‘provoked’. Wrong parenting makes the children become angry and bitter towards their parents and rebellious against all authority in general. The parents are the first teachers and pastors of the children. Before a child is eight years old, the foundation of his behavior in life has been laid. Selah!

To honor it means to respect, to appreciate, to value, to take into consideration, to be polite, to admire or to make allowances. How do we honor our parents? Pray for them. Greet them. Appreciate them speaking with kind words. Tell them that you love them. Words are powerful. To honor your father, it means you love your mother. To honor your mother, it means you love your father. Love your siblings. Remember that Love is practical. Help them financially. Buy gifts for them. Love means to listen. Listen to their stories. Ask them sometimes for their opinion. Even if you disagree, do not be rude to them. Do not argue with them. Speak well of your parents to other people. Never gossip them to your friends. Ask how you can help them. You honor your parents by making a habit of honoring older people in general. “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man and fear your God: I am the LORD” (Lev 19:32). Honoring your parents is being respectful in words and action. Please note that honor is giving respect not only for merit but also for their position, or office. For example, you may disagree with your president or king, but you still respect his office or throne. Therefore, children of all ages should honor their parents, regardless of whether or not their parents “deserve” that honor. Selah!

Make and spend quality time with your parents. Time is so expensive. Call them on the phone or visit them. Remember their birthdays and anniversaries. Call them, send a gift or at least a recharge card. These things are appreciated so much more as your parents age. Help them without being bossy. One of the best ways to help them is to show them how to use the media (Facebook, whatsup etc). Many older people do not know how to use media tools. Be patient with them as you teach them. Talk to them in love and with wisdom. If they demand too much from you, and their needs affect your marriage, then gently but firmly set boundaries. Be sure that your spouse understands your commitment to your parents. Help her to do the same for her own parents. Honor your parents in law too. Be in the unity of the Spirit. As they age, your parents may become ‘childish’. Please, do not treat them as children. They remain your parents until their last breath. Do not compare them with other ‘better’ parents. God never makes mistakes. These two are YOUR PARENTS. Don’t ever make fun of them. At their age they do not understand joking language. Never insult or mock them! Not even in your mind! Honor them in your heart, mind, and language! It does not matter if they are rich or poor, educated or not. They are your parents and God commands you to respect them.

Remember the time you were a small boy (girl). How your mum stayed with you the whole night when you were sick. Your father bought you gifts and was happy with your good grades in school. They were not paid to take care of you! They are your life foundation. God gave them to you as a grace gift. Also remember that none is perfect. Only Jesus Christ is! Your parents tried their best for you. You are now a grown man (woman). Be grateful to God for them! Finally, be the best son (daughter) you can be. Serve God. Marry well. Take care of your family. Get a good education. Get a good job or do a good business. All parents are happy when they see that their children are successful. Selah!

To honor your parents is not an option. It is God’s command, and it must be obeyed. This command applies to small children and adults for as long as they have parents. These commands were never meant to be legalistic, but to draw us closer to God. Honor your father and mother, specifically, means to show respect for the authority in our lives. When we are young, we rely on our parents for food, care, and comfort. As we grow, the natural rebellion in us pushes against their authority. But we must obey God’s Word to honor them Obeying your parents brings blessings. You live long and well. It is a blessing to your descendants who will always serve God. “And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever” (Jer 35:18, 19). Jesus told the rich your ruler: “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 19:17-19). Honoring your parents is a sign that you are born again and have eternal life.

DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN ARE PUNISHED BY GOD

God made man. God made relationships. Marriage is God’s idea. Having a family is God’s idea. The way we relate to others in the family reflects our relationship to God. The children learn to submit to authority by obeying their parents. “Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!” (Deut 27:16). “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death” (Ex 21:17). “For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him” (Lev 20:9). A wicked child will not prosper, spiritually and physically. If a child is rebellious to his parents, he will be rebellious to other people. As children grow older their relationship with their parents’ changes. But there is never a time when they are free from honoring their parents. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1Tim 5:8). Neglecting your parents means dishonoring them. This is a sure sign of being an unbeliever. The Bible says: “The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it” (PV 30:17). Dishonoring your parents (natural or spiritual) causes spiritual blindness.

Rebellious wicked children who don’t care for their parents become foolish and will not make progress in life. This is God’s punishment to them. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting… disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Rom 1:28-32). God gives them to a ‘debased mind’. “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents…  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts… but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was” (2 Tim 3:1-9).

God’s judgment on sin manifests in many ways. Poverty, sickness, and war is common. One of the ways is that there is a reversal of authority. The fathers, the elders, submit to the younger generation. This is a curse. “For behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stock and the store, the whole supply of bread and the whole supply of water; The mighty man and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the diviner and the elder; The captain of fifty and the honorable man, the counselor, and the skillful artisan, and the expert enchanter. “I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. The people will be oppressed, everyone by another and everyone by his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base toward the honorable” (Is 3:1-5). When the leaders refuse to pay the price for spiritual maturity, God will judge them. They will lose any spiritual authority they had. Children, spiritually immature people, become leaders in the families and churches. This reversal is God’s judgment, and it ends in poverty, and frustration. Selah!

THE AUTHORITY OF THE PARENTS IN ISRAEL

God invented families. God is a God or order in the families. God commands the wife to submit to her husband as Christ totally submitted to God the Father. God commands the husband to sacrificially love his wife as Christ loves the Church. God commands the children to honor their parents. God commands the parents to train the children in the way of the Lord. These are all commands and not suggestions. Only a child of God can truly obey these commands. Obeying these commands results in godly and happy families. The Jewish family consisted not only of father, mother, and their children. A family was also called ‘a household’. There were other people who were included in the household: hired servants, slaves bought with money, concubines of the father, and even foreigners. For example, God commanded Abraham to circumcise all the males in his house, as a sign of the covenant (Gen 17:26, 27). Joshua spoke as the father of his household declaring that they will never serve idols and only the living God. “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh 24:15). You see the great authority the father has over his household. The family submits to the father, spiritually and physically.

The word ‘father’ in the Old Testament, means more than just the male figure in the family. A Father is the ancestral originator of a people. For example, Abraham is called the Father of faith for Israel, Islam, and Christianity (Rom 4:16). Lesson: fathers can be natural or spiritual. We must honor them all. In the Bible, the father is the spiritual and physical leader of the family. In the Old Testament, the father had total authority over his children. For example, a father can sell his children into slavery (Exodus 21:7) or could kill his child. For example, Abraham was ready to kill his son Isaac in obedience to God. But God provided a ram as a sacrifice in the place of his son (Genesis 22). A father could bless or curse his children. For example, Noah got drunk and lie down naked. His younger son Ham saw his father’s nakedness. For dishonoring him, Noah cursed Ham’s son, Canaan. He will always be a slave. Noah’s older sons, Shem and Japhet, covered their father’s nakedness without looking at him. For honoring him, Noah blessed them. Their descendants will prosper and be landlords (Gen 9:18-28). The curse and the blessing remained. Many years later, God’s people conquered the land of Canaan. Selah!

In the same way, Isaac blesses his son Jacob and curses Esau to be a servant to his bother (Genesis 27). God confirms the father’s blessing and cursing on his sons. God said: “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated” (Rom 9:13). Jacob, as he was dying, blessed the sons of Joseph, and his own sons (Gen 48 and 49). Ruben was Jacob’s first son. He could have been the leader of his siblings, but Jacob does not bless him because he committed adultery with one of his wives (Gen 49:3, 4; 35:22). This curse is based on God’s law: “Do not dishonor your father by having sexual relations with your mother. She is your mother; do not have relations with her. Do not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; that would dishonor your father” (Lev 18:7, 8; NIV). Lesson: Dishonoring your mother means dishonoring your father. Selah!

The first duty of the father was spiritual. He is the spiritual leader and priest of the home leading his household to worship God. It was also his duty to provide food and shelter, to maintain order in the home and to discipline the rebellious. The father was to be the best example the children have in a home. A good father and mother were praised and honored. For example, Job was a good father and priest of his home. “So, it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus, Job did regularly” (Job 1:5). The mother takes care of the children especially when they are little. She works mostly behind the scenes. She prays and comforts her children who love and appreciate her. “As one whom his mother comforts. So, I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Is 66:13). A virtuous mother is honored by all. “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates” (PV 31:28-31).

GOOD MEN- BAD FATHERS

A bad father or mother were seen as a curse to the family and to the descendants. They “may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God” (Ps 78:8). “Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals. They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, And pervert the way of the humble. A man and his father go into the same girl, To defile My holy name” (Amos 2:6, 7). In the Bible, there are good men who are bad fathers. Jacob discriminated among his sons. He loved Joseph more than the rest of the sons. That created division in the family. (Gen 37:3, 4). The priest Eli was also a good man. But he did not discipline his sons who were wicked priests. God punished his family for that (1 Sam 2:11-14). King David was a man after God’s heart. He was a good man, but a bad father.  Both his sons Absalom and Adonijah rebelled against him and wanted to take the throne. Prophet Samuel was one of the most spiritual men in Israel, but his sons were lovers of money (1 Sam 8:1-3).

GOOD SONS

Joseph took care of his aged father, Jacob, and all of his family. He gave them Goshen, the best of the land of Egypt, to settle (Gen 47:11). King David took care of his parents when he was persecuted by King Saul. “Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold” (1 Sam 22:3, 4).

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITES OF THE PARENTS?

The parents are not responsible to always entertain the children and make them happy. There are times when you need to discipline the children and they will be angry. It is not possible to totally control your child. You teach your child what is right. If he disobeys you, there shall be consequences. You need to allow your children to make mistakes and learn from them. Set limits of behavior for your child.  Do not spoil them. Do not allow them to be lazy. Do not do for them what they have to do for themselves. Remember, you are not a perfect parent. You will make mistakes. Forgive yourself. Learn from mistakes. Pray for more grace. Thank God for everything!

What are the responsibilities of Christian parents towards their children? Be an example to them. Bring them to church to be dedicated to God. Pray for them. Read the Bible to them. Bring them to church to attend the services. This is one of the best gifts you give to your children. The fathers are responsible to feed and clothe the children; to pay the house rent, their education or training; and to pay their medical bills.

The parents are responsible to train in the way of the Lord, discipline, and love their children! You must guide your child in life. Make tough decisions and insist your child obeys them. Do not explain every decision you make. Train your child to be independent. He will not always be your ‘baby’. The child needs to imagine life outside your home. It takes wisdom, patience, and grace to train your child to be an adult without being overdependent on you. Life is not easy. Sometimes your child will be a champion and other times he will fail an exam. The greatest gift you give to your child is to walk with him in life. Let the child know that if he ever needs you, he can talk to you. When the children become adults, the relationship changes. It becomes more spiritual. The greatest challenges for older people are weakness of the body and mind, loneliness, fear of poverty, and the fear of death. The children must help the parents with wisdom and love.

HOW TO HONOR YOUR SPIRITUAL FATHER OR MOTHER?

*Support your pastors. Like Aaron and Hur, support your pastor in his weakness (Ex 17:10-13). Do not add unnecessary burdens. Do not make too many demands on their time and effort. Ask your pastor how you can help. Support him with prayer, encouragement, and even financially.

*Recognize your pastors in public. Never insult your pastor. Pray for him. Love him. Send messages of encouragement to him. “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess 5:12, 13).

*Submit to your pastors and elders. Do it for Christ’ sake! “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb 13:17). The best way to honor your pastors is to apply the doctrine they preach. Every teacher is happy when the students obey his words.

*Protect your pastor. “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear” (1 Tim 5:17-20). Openly refuse any accusation against an elder in the church if it is coming from only one source. To insult your pastor in public is a serious offence. It is at the same level with dis-honoring your father and mother. Poverty mentality and fear of untimely death will attack your mind. If you are sure that your pastor is living in sin or he preaches false doctrines, quietly leave that church, and look for another.

SPIRITUAL COVERING

Spiritual covering is the idea that a Christian submits not only to God but also to a more mature believer, to his pastor or mentor. The idea is good in general but there are many abuses and mistakes when applied practically. This is the truth: the believer is to submit to God alone! But the teaching about submission in the Body of Christ is also Biblical. We should be “submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Eph 5:21). It is also true that we need to ask for wise counsel from others. But let us be careful. We only need God’s approval and not men’s approval. Many Christians fell into trouble by replacing God with their pastors or prophets. That is wrong. It is to prevent these religious excesses that Jesus said: “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (Matt 23:9). The devil fights humble submission in the Body of Christ. Pride, emotional manipulation, can damage the relationship between a pastor and a younger believer in the congregation. Both the spiritual ‘father’ and the spiritual ‘son’ need to pray that the relationship remains ‘on the altar’, in the Presence of God at all times and no flesh comes in between. Done properly, the spiritual covering of prayer done by your pastors is a great grace gift to the Body of Christ. 

The greatest work Elijah did was not to call God’s fire down. It was to call and mentor the younger generation. Elijah went to heaven in a chariot of fire. He dropped his mantle on Elisha who called him ‘My father, my father’ (2 Kings 2:12). Elisha was the spiritual heir of Elijah. He received a double portion of anointing from Elijah, as an older son receives his inheritance. Elijah did 14 miracles. Elisha did 28 miracles. All fathers want their children to be better. John said: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 Jn 1:4). A true spiritual father is never threatened by his sons’ rise in ministry. But a fake ‘father’ is afraid when the younger ones become more popular and he hinders the progress of his ‘sons.’ A true father loves his sons, prays that they get stronger spiritually and rejoice when they make progress in life and ministry. 

“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:4-6). These are the last words God spoke in the Old Testament. It will take about 400 years before these words will come to pass. John the Baptist came in the power of Elijah who turned the hearts of Israel from idols towards the living God. John came to introduce the Savior, Jesus Christ. He came to prophetically turn hearts to one another. First of all, John’s words touched and turned the hearts of the fathers who have become hardened and lukewarm. As the fathers slowly turned towards God, and their sons, the sons’ hearts became softer and responded. The gap between generation was closing. The desire to be a family again was revived. This turning is the effect of remembering the Ten Commandments. “Remember the Law of Moses!” Obedience to the Ten Commandments will release rain (revival) on the families. Sons will honor their fathers again. The fathers will spiritually cover their sons with blessings no other man can give. Refusal of the fathers to turn in love towards their sons, and the refusal of the sons to repent of dishonoring their fathers, will bring a curse on the land. May God turn our hearts towards Him and bless families! May revival come!

NOT MANY FATHERS

In the New Testament, we see that fathers (and mothers) are both natural and spiritual. A father is a pastor, an elder, or a spiritually mature Christian. “I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning” (1 John 2:13, 14). Paul was a spiritual father to many, among whom were Timothy and Titus. “For even if you were to have ten thousand teachers [to guide you] in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers [who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you], for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the good news [of salvation]” (1 Cor 4:15; AMP). In Greek, the word ‘teacher’ is a slave who was hired to take the master’s children to school.  He was not strictly a teacher. He was a boy’s guardian or tutor, a servant who had charge of the life and morals of the boys in a family. He was often a foreigner, educated and willing to work in a home. Apostle Paul said that in a church there are many people who can help you along the way. But there are not many spiritual ‘fathers’ like him, who invested their lives in the spiritual growth of the younger believers. There is a great difference between the harshness of a hireling and the loving tenderness of a father like Paul. The teachers work only for a salary. They do not love their students. But the fathers love their children. Love is the separating factor. The spiritual father is a man whom God has used to lead someone to Christ, and who continues to disciple him. There is a spiritual relationship between a spiritual father and a spiritual son. There are many Christians who only know ‘teachers.’ They have never met a mentor with the authority of a spiritual father. A believer is to honor all workers in the church, but in particular, he must honor those who ‘fathered’ them thru the Gospel.  A spiritual father is the one who loved you enough to invest his life into you, to bring you inside his spiritual home, to raise you up from the mud of immaturity so that you partake from the riches of Christ. The words of a spiritual father go deeper than the words of many teachers. They go into your bone marrow and change your understanding of life. There are many spiritual orphans in the church. They eat food, marry, work for God but they never come to the place of maturity and total peace. Something basic is lacking in them. A father makes a great difference in the life of a spiritual orphan. Honor him!

HOW TO HONOR BAD PARENTS WHO ABUSED THEIR CHILDREN

This is a difficult topic. Because we are born sinners, physical and emotional abuse in the family is common. I read that almost one million children in the United States are abused each year, and 80% of these children are victimized by a parent. This pain is a pain of betrayal. It goes deep. In the absence of the Grace of God, it becomes bitterness. The children who were victims become oppressors themselves. Their own children suffer, and the vicious circle continues. This is the best advice: a child who is abused by his parents should report them to others, or to the police. Once the children become adults, they still need to forgive their parents. Forgiveness is God’s command. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Our parents are the closest neighbors. Lesson: if your parents were bad, you still need to honor them. You should not insult them. Pray for them, give them money as much as possible but you don’t need to have a close relationship with them.

THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS (Matt 21:28-32)

How can you be a good son? According to Jesus, a good son repents of sins and does the will of his father! This is a good parable. Jesus said that a good son is one who knows and does the will of the father. In the parable of the two sons, the father asked each one to work for him. The father here stands for God. The sons stand for sinners whom the God calls. When called, the first son rudely refused. He later repented and went to do the father’s will. He stands for the prostitutes and tax collectors. They openly live in sin. They are not religious. They are not hypocrites. The second son said that he will go but did not go. He stands for the Pharisees and religious people. He speaks good words in public, but he has no desire to please God the Father. People think good of him, but his heart is hard. He is a religious hypocrite. Jesus confronts their sins. But Jesus leaves a door of grace open even to them. Jesus said to them: ““Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you” (Matt 21:31). Jesus did not say ‘instead of you’. He said ‘before you’. That means there is a chance for them to repent and enter the Kingdom of God! Praise the Lord!

THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON (Lk 15:11-32)

This is the story of a wonderful father who has two bad sons. The Father stands for God. The prodigal son stands for the prostitutes and tax collector. These are open sinners. The older brother represents the religious hypocrites. The Father extends His hand of grace to both of them.

GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON

All scriptures point to Jesus. The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. He is the Son of God and also the Son of Man. When Jesus was 12 years old, He went with His parents to Jerusalem. At the end of the pilgrimage, He stayed behind in the Temple, discussing with the teachers of the Law. The parents did not know. They had to go back looking for Him. When they found Him, His mother said anxiously: “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them” (Lk 2:48-50). They did not understand because Jesus was not calling Joseph ‘father’ but God, His Father. But as a good son, Jesus was obedient to His earthly parents. God blessed this obedience with great favor to God and man. “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk 2:51, 52). Jesus grew like any child. From a baby He grew to become a child, a teenager, then a man. The only difference is that He was born without sin. He had no pride, fear, or selfishness. That made His development easier and faster than other children. His wisdom and understanding were perfect according to His age. He grew in favor with men. I think that He repaired the crooked chairs Joseph made. These chairs were the strongest and most beautiful in the city of Nazareth. Joseph no doubt was very proud of his Son. Before Jesus entered His ministry, people appreciated His humility, kindness, and wisdom. Once He started preaching and doing miracles, the religious rulers got angry and jealous, and wanted Him dead. Jesus honored His heavenly Father thru prayers and desiring to do His will.

Jesus worked as a carpenter in Nazareth until He came to the River Jordan to be baptizes by John. It was here that God the Father publicly approved the ministry of Jesus. “Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mk 1:11). This is a great lesson: if Jesus needed approval of His Father before He could start His ministry so much more, we need a spiritual covering to whom we are accountable. “Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb 5:5-9). Jesus is the perfect Son of God and priest. He is our example!

As a Son, Jesus made clear that He and God the Father are always one (Jn 10:30). He said that all the work He is doing is what the Father shows Him to do (Jn 5:16-18). As a Son, Jesus was never ashamed to identify with His Father. That is why the religious rulers wanted to kill Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to His Father and submitted to His will. “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matt 26:39).

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is the best example in all things of life. He was a caring son to his mother Mary. His father Jospeh was a good man too, but it seems he died before Jesus started his ministry. On the Cross, ready to die, Jesus handed over His mother Mary to Apostle John. “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home” (Jn 19:25-27).

God the Father is called ‘The Ancient of Days’ (Daniel 7:9-14). He is seen as an old man, with white hair, seated on the throne in heaven. The Son of Man, Jesus, as a victorious mature Son, comes to the throne of God the Father. He brings the spoils of war gained thru His sacrifice on the Cross. He died to save His people. God the Father is the judge. He destroys the devil. Later, Jesus Himself looks like an old man with white hair. He is the High Priest and Head of the Church. John bows before Him (Revelation 1). Worship the Lord!