【双语灵修】当孝敬父母HONOR YOUR PARENTS

出埃及记 20:12；以弗所书 6:1-4

“当孝敬父母，使你的日子在耶和华你神所赐你的地上得以长久。 你们做儿女的，要在主里听从父母，这是理所当然的。 “要孝敬父母，使你得福，在世长寿。”这是第一条带应许的诫命。 你们做父亲的，不要惹儿女的气，只要照着主的教训和警戒养育他们。

8月12日

当孝敬父母

“你们作儿女的，要在主里听从父母，这是理所当然的。” - 以弗所书 6:1

你是否注意到，十诫中多数的诫命是禁止某些行为，而只有少数诫命是要求积极的行动？例如，第四诫是积极的，呼吁我们要守安息日；第五诫则呼吁我们要孝敬父母。不仅如此，这更是唯一一条包含了应许的诫命。

以色列民非常严肃地看待这条诫命。孩子若对父母顽梗悖逆，会受审判，甚至会被人用石头打死（《申命记》21:21）。

在《新约》中，使徒保罗同样严肃地看待这条诫命，但他将“孝敬父母”置于“在基督里的生活”的背景下，积极探讨这个的要求。在讨论家庭关系以及如何以爱彼此顺服时，保罗教导儿女要听从父母。然而，他所要求的不仅仅是听从父母的指令，更是要履行“孝敬”与“尊重”父母这个更深层的本分。当我们孝敬并听从父母时，我们便是在尊崇并顺服神，也是在生命中庆贺祂所赐下的这份基本人伦关系的恩赐。

保罗指出，父母对子女也负有基本的责任。教养子女是一项神圣而重大的责任，其中包含了养育的爱心、智慧和忍耐。当父母与子女在神所赐的生命中，于爱里彼此顺服时，我们便能预见兴盛、平安和智慧。

祷告

天父，感谢你赐下家庭这份美好的礼物。求你帮助我们，无论是作为父母还是子女，都能彰显你的慈爱与美善。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。

Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

HONOR YOUR PARENTS

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. —Ephesians 6:1

Have you ever noticed that most of the Ten Commandments forbid certain behaviors while only some call for positive action? The fourth commandment, for example, is positive, calling us to keep the Sabbath. And the fifth calls for honoring our parents. What’s more, only the fifth commandment includes a promise.

The people of Israel took this commandment very seriously. Children could be stoned to death for being stubborn and rebellious to their parents (Deuteronomy 21:21).

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul takes this commandment seriously as well, but he frames it positively in the context of life in Christ. While discussing family relationships and how to submit to each other in love, Paul instructs children to obey their parents. He doesn’t call for merely obeying parents’ directions, though; he calls for the deeper duty of honoring and respecting parents as well. When we honor and obey our parents, we honor and obey God and celebrate his gift of this fundamental human relationship in our lives.

Paul notes that parents too have a basic responsibility to their children. Parenting children is an awesome responsibility that includes nurturing love, wisdom, and patience. When children and parents submit to each other in love in the life God has given them, we can expect to see flourishing, peace, and wisdom.

Father in heaven, thank you for the blessings of family life. Help us as parents and children to mirror your love and care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.