Why is honoring your father and mother grouped with the commandments about our relationship with God?
Honoring father and mother is grouped with the first five commandments because it contains the same connecting phrase, “the Lord thy God.” Its promise says long days may be given in the land “the Lord thy God giveth thee.” That phrase links it to man’s relationship with God, while the last five omit it.
Les explains that the first five commandments are held together by the connecting link “the Lord thy God.” When he comes to the fifth commandment in verse 12, he keeps it with the first five because it says, “honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” That statement includes “the Lord thy God,” tying it to man’s relationship with God. The last five, by contrast, are simpler and do not include “the Lord thy God,” making them man’s relationship with man. He also notes that a society cannot hold together if these last five are ignored.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
More Questions
Why does Les put 'honor thy father and mother' with the first five commandments about our relationship with God?
Les groups the commandment to honor father and mother with the first five (relationship with God) because of the statement 'which the Lord thy God giveth thee.'
Why is the command to honor father and mother grouped with the first five commandments?
Because God is the supreme God who will not give in to competition from idols, the Creator of everything, and the one who set up the home, the father and mother are placed with the first five commandments.