The commandment for children to honor their parents goes far beyond bare obedience. It also includes love and affection, gratitude and respect. Children and young people, God wants you to honor, love, obey, and respect your parents. He wants you to show them affection and gratitude. It is too often assumed that this fifth commandment is addressed to children and young people only.
Nothing can be further from the truth.
Yes, it is addressed to the young first. But to conclude that this commandment only applies to the young, that it loses its force when childhood is finished, is to miss at least half of its deep significance. Permit me just a brief word here. Many grownups present this morning have parents who are still alive. There are two shocking trends in how many people in today's society treat their elderly parents.