Honoring Parents, Honoring God (Proverbs 23:22)
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Proverbs 23:22
Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
In the words of my own wise father, the truth of this verse is so plain it scarcely needs defending. It’s self-evident. Yet, the Spirit does not waste ink — and here He presses upon us a duty that our stubborn pride is quick to forget.
Charles Bridges, that careful theologian, paints the gallery of Scripture with examples of this command in living color:
He says, “The Scripture examples are beautiful patterns for our imitation. Isaac with Abraham (Gen 22:7–10; 26:18); Jacob with both his parents (Gen 28:1–5, 7);† Joseph's deference to his aged father, and desiring his blessing on his own children (Gen 47:7–12; 48:1–20; 50:1); Moses with his father-in-law (Exod 4:18; 18:7–27); Ruth with her mother-in-law (Ruth 1:16–17; 2:11; 3:5–6);† Solomon in the grandeur of royalty paying respect to his mother (1 Kgs 2:19–20); the Rechabites hearkening to their deceased father's command (Jer 35:6–10, 14–19); and — above all the rest — the Savior's tender care for his mother in his own dying agonies (John 19:26–27).”
I cannot overstate it: your parents are worthy of honor.
Not because they’ve always been wise, or kind, or even safe — but because God Himself stamped them with the names “Father” and “Mother.” Titles given not by achievement, but by divine appointment. Their crown may be bent and tarnished, but it is still a crown. The ink that wrote those names into your story cannot be scrubbed away by time or failure.
But lean in closer: if we are commanded to honor parents whose frailty is evident, how much more must we honor the Father who has no fault? If the crooked crown of earthly fatherhood deserves reverence, shall we withhold it from the King whose throne is everlasting?
The home is heaven’s rehearsal hall. If we cannot bow before the first authorities God placed in our lives, how shall we bend the knee before the Lord of glory? To despise our parents is a training ground in despising God Himself. And to honor them, even with trembling and difficulty, is to practice for the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Make no mistake — you will honor Him one day, whether you wish it or not. Some will bow with songs of joy, others with the grinding of teeth.
But “bow we shall”, for His title does not change. He is Father. He is King. He is worthy.
Let’s pray.
