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"FATHER'S DAY" (Ex. 20:12) June 15th, 2008 Note: " Father's Day, holiday celebrated in the U.S. On third Sunday in June; children honor their fathers with cards, gifts; generally believed to have originated in Spokane, Wash., in 1910, based on suggestion of Mrs. John Bruce Dodd; national observance dates from 1924" In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother's Day."Int. The first commandment with promise is the fifth commandment. A. Here are some sobering statistics: "According to the Bureau of the Census, 63% of teen suicides, 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions, 71% of high-school dropouts, 75% of children in chemical-abuse centers, 80% of rapists, 85% of youths in prison, 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders, and 90% of homeless and runaway children are children from fatherless homes. In fact, children born to unwed mothers are ten times more likely to live in poverty as children with fathers in the home." (FATHERS ARE IMPORTANT)1. Paul quotes this in (Eph 6:1-2) "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. {2}Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;"A. Federalist Papers: "Many families will celebrate Father's Day this Sunday, but the tragic reality is that some 35-million children live absent or apart from their biological fathers. One in two children -- and only one in five inner-city children -- are in homes with their fathers." 2. Moses links both our "Mother and Father" into one theme. (Ex. 20:12)3. Jesus in commenting on the law, said: (Mark 7:9-10) "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. {10}For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:"4. There is something intensely personal about this special commandment. A. Under 1. 2. "Children who grow up with their fathers do far better -- emotionally, educationally, physically, every way we can measure -- than children who do not," 5. No one can read this commandment without seeing that God is mindful of "FATHER AND MOTHER." A. Our "HEAVENLY FATHER" knows the problems of being an "EARTHLY FATHER." 6. This commandment commands "HONOR" Ill. Missionaries write about wives or mothers being hitched to the same plow with a mule, showing how little respect the pagans have for motherhood. 7. Here God links both parents together..."FATHER AND MOTHER". Ill. . If parents then would have honor from their children, they must live honorably. Ill. B. H. Carroll said: "This commandment is located in the middle of the Decalog, connecting the two tables of the law. (The parent being in the place of God to the child) A. (Eph 3:14-15) "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, {15} Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," Ill. The ancient Romans used one word to describe a child's obedience to his parents: "Pious" A. Duty to God and duty to parents is therefore called B. This duty to Parents used to be summed up in three ways: 1. Honor to Parents. A. Pulpit Commentary: "Honor" is higher than obedience; it is the regard due to those who, by Divine appointment, are above us, and to whom our most respectful consideration is due." 2. Obedience to parents. (a) 3. To care for the parents in their necessity. 8. In our text, God is mindful of the children too. Ill. This, too, is significant, for in the very day in which this commandment was given, children were not held in the esteem in which this commandment holds them. a. Years later, Jesus would say: (Mat 19:14) "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Ill. Hey -- equal rights, equal rights! The federal flag code passed by the congress, in 1976, prescribes flag etiquette. It states that the flag may be flown at any time, but it states precisely when the flag should be flown. And it specifically includes Mother's Day but it does not include Father's Day. -- Associated Press, 5-22-91 I. FIRST, NOTICE THE DIVINE RESPONSIBILITY 1. This commandment is to be obeyed daily... 2. It is not a commandment to be observed at one's own pleasure, but daily. Ill. 1. We are careful to not let it drag the ground while being raised or lowered. 2. Our soldier boys fought and died to protect its 3. They would risk their lives to keep it from falling into the mud. C. SUCH HONOR SHOULD BE RENDERED TO OUR PARENTS. 1. Genuine honor implies genuine respect. 2. Notice the usage of the word honor in Scripture. a. b. (Deu 5:16) "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."c. (Mat 15:4) "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death."d. (Eph 6:2) "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;" D. THIS WORD HONOR IMPLIES "OBEDIENCE"a. 1. What possible better way to honor one's parents? b. (Luke 2:51) "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."1. What better example of honoring our parents could we find? 2. He who was higher than the heavens was subject to His earthly parents! c. Even while dying on the cross, Jesus honored his mother.1. d. One of the tragic signs of the last days is mentioned by Paul. 1. (2 Tim 3:2) "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," E. SOME OF THE GREATEST CHARACTERS IN THE BIBLE HONORED THEIR PARENTS. 1. a. 2. Solomon, the most magnificent of all earthly kings, honoured his mother.a. 3. God said of Abraham: 4. And behold, a Greater than Solomon, was subject to His parents on this earth. II. NOTICE THE DIVINE REPRESENTATION. Int. This is suggested by the words, "THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER." 1. The first table deals with duties to God and the second table deals with duties to men. 1. There can be no authority in a nation or between nations without authority in the home. 2. Authority begins in the home; if authority fails here, all authority decays. 3. The child that doesn't honor his parents will never honor God. III. NOTICE THE DEFINITE REWARD PROMISED HERE. A. THIS IS PROMISED BY GOD HIMSELF. 1. Ill. During the war a large factory advertised for workers. When a man responded, he was asked what he did for a living? I milk cows he said. He was told that what he was doing was great and that he should continue doing what he was doing. A few hours later a woman applied for the same job. She, too, was questioned to determine her availability. Had she been working in another defense factory, she could have received a transfer. Had she been milking a herd of cows, she would have been told to go home because what she was doing was needful. But she was engaged in none of these operations. She was merely a homemaker. Without hesitation she was accepted for the position and went to work on the night shift, while her six young children were left to run the streets or suffer from neglect.
IV. CONSIDER THE DESIRED REALIZATION. A. THIS IS EXPRESSED IN THE WORDS, "THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE." 1. To enjoy this rich heritage of grace in all its fulness, it was necessary to walk in obedience. a. That is: "Honor God and Honor His servants, your Parents." 2. (Deu 27:16) "Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen."
Conclusion: There is a unique challenge in (Gen 44:34) It is a part of Judah's plea for his brother Benjamin.(Gen 44:34) "For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father."Note: May not we ask the same question from a spiritual stand-point?Faith of our fathers! living still In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword: O how our hearts beat high with joy When-e'er we hear that glorious word! Our fathers, chained in prisons dark, Were still in heart and conscience free: How sweet would be their children's fate, If they, like them, could die for Thee! Faith of our fathers! we will love, Both friend and foe in all our strife: And preach Thee, too, as love knows how, By kindly words and virtuous life: Faith of our fathers! holy faith! We will be true to thee till death!
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