SHOWING HONOR AND RESPECT
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 A SCRIPTURE that stirs further interest after being read is found in 1 Timothy 5:17. It reads, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." The word "honour" and then the words "double honour" stand out. "Honour" represents the Greek word timé. Interestingly, this word is found in the name Timothy, Timotheos (timé + theos = honor + God, one who honors God). In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul is talking about the elders of the church who do a good job being elders. They are to be counted worthy of "double honour." The basic honor comes in respecting them. Paul admonished the Christians at Thessalonica, "And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour 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" (1 Thessalonians 5:12,13). But Paul goes a step further in 1 Timothy 5:18, the verse following the first reference mentioned above, "For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward." The "double honour" consisted in them being materially supported in their work, too.
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 This leads us to more thought about this word "honour." One of the Ten Commandments involved the use of this word. "Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the lord thy God giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12). From an article written years ago by this writer, we share the following words with you. We think they convey our thoughts well without having to express them again.
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"HONOUR THY FATHER
AND THY MOTHER" (EXODUS 20:12)
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 This great commandment serves as a transition from the first four to the ones that follow. From worshipping the Creator and source of life, parents are to be honored who pass this sacred life on to others, and the image of God in all men is to be mutually respected by all with deference and dignity. Paul summed up the remaining commandments under loving neighbor as self in Romans 13:8-10, then he said, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." This love is agapé, the love of esteem and respect.
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"Double Honour" to Parents
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 The word "honour" here is from a verb that means, "to be heavy," and hence also "to be rich, to be honored" (it is said). Even as Paul instructed that certain elders in the church were to be counted worthy of "double honour" (1 Timothy 5:17), the Jews realized this significance in reference to parents. (1) Parents were to be honored in the sense of being highly respected, venerated, and even feared (Leviticus 19:3). Mentally, they were to be held in the highest esteem, and by word and deed. (2) This brings us to the second aspect of this honor. Even as they were told in Proverbs 3:9 to "honour the LORD with thy substance," they were likewise to honor their parents in a material sense (especially helping them with their material needs in their old age). But some tried to get around this responsibility later (Matthew 15:4-6; Mark 7:10-13). Such honoring is to be carried out in the context of the church, too (i.e., "Honour widows that are widows indeed," 1 Timothy 5:3; cf. verses 4 and 8). In oriental fashion, we even find children bowing before parents in the Bible (Genesis 48:12; 1 Kings 2:19). Even though parents sometimes were not honorable, they were nonetheless to be respected by their children (Genesis 9:20-27). 
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The Backside of This Commandment
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 The violation of the negative backside of this commandment was a capital offense. Exodus 21:17 dealt with those who cursed their parents (just the opposite of honoring). "And he that curseth [revileth] his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death." Exodus 21:15 had to do with "smiting" (assaulting) parents (just the opposite of giving them a helping hand), "And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death." Leviticus 20:9 further emphasizes the death sentence in connection with this offense. The Lord Jesus definitely saw this as the negative backside of this com mandment to honor parents (Matthew 15:4). An amplification of this negative problem is seen in Deuteronomy 21:18-21. But it seems that this part of the commandment was never carried out. 
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The First Commandment with Promise
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 Looking back from the New Testament, the apostle Paul, speaks of this commandment to honor father and mother as "the first commandment with promise" (that they would live long upon the earth) (Ephesians 6:1-3). It was the first of the Ten Commandments actually to "spell out" such a promise (or any promise). God attached this promise to the commandment when He initially uttered it (Exodus 20:12). However, years later when Moses rehearsed all of the commandments before Israel, he amplified the promise in connection with this one by saying, "That thy days many be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the lord thy God giveth thee" (Deuteronomy 5:16). Longevity was not the only thing involved. God made the honoring of parents a prerequisite for the people remaining in the Promised Land. As someone has said, "The Holy Land will not tolerate you if you will fail to honor your parents, for in such a case harmonious social life by Biblical standards would be impossible." The family unit built around respect for parents is the very basis for an enduring, stable, and orderly society. Take this away, and they would be in trouble (any people will be in trouble). If they obeyed God, the land would be theirs (Deuteronomy 6:17,18). Otherwise, like the nations before them, the land would "spue" (vomit) them out (Leviticus 18:24-28; 20:22; 26:33; Deuteronomy 4:26,27; 28:62,63).
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 This article only selectively touches the "hem of the garment" in dealing with this matter of showing honor and respect. Yes, it is highly fitting that honor and respect be shown to the leaders of the church, but only in a Scriptural sense (no titles with "reverend," please). And in this era of the deterioration of the family, and the lack of respect for many things, it should be a matter of high priority to show honor and respect to parents. Many other areas should command our attention involving this subject. Let us not hesitate to explore them and fill the void in that which is lacking.
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