The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1962-02-10

rEnhUAkx IL, 1867
By Rev. George A. Harper
511 Avenue G.,
Greenwood, Miss.
CHRISTIAN FAMILY LIV-
ING:
Scripture Lesson - Exodus
20:12; Proverbs 1:8; Mark TO-
ID; Luke 2:39.51; John 19:25-27
Print - Exodus 2O:12; Mark
1913; John 19:25-27.
MEMORY SELECTION -
Honour thy father and thy
mother. - exodus 20:12). The
fifth commandment is the first
commandment with a promise
attached to it. The reward is
long life. Children may we'll
honor their father and mother.
for this has its virtues and
will be beneficial from a ma
terial, physical, spiritual and
eternal standpoint. Many chill
dren's lives have been cut
short prematurely for no other
reason than disobedience to
parents. The word 'honor"
has many synonymous mean
ingS which may be express
ed as follows: respect, regard,
reverence, esteem, veneration,
show courtesy to, pay homage,
admire, love, appreciate,
praise, recommend, obey, etc.
God will honor children who
honor their parents.
PARENTAL REGARD:
1t is from the parental re-
lationship that the child learns
the first lessons of depen-
dence. 1t is in this direction
that it looks for affection and
the meeting of all it's needs.
Out of this relationship of alb
solute dependence should grow
the roots of gratitude, paving
the way for the fulfillment of
the commandment. Honour
thy father and thy mother that
thy days may be long upon
the land which the Lord thy
God giveth thee" which has
been called the first command
ment with promise. 1t is not
difficult to understand how
failure at the first step in the
family relationship can lead to
failure in the entire family
structure. 1t behooves parents
in their relationships with
children to provide both the
parental content and the child
training which will make par
entral honor as certain as pos
sible on the part of the child.
JESUS AND FAMILY RE-
LATIONSHIPS:
The traditional teachings of
the Pharisees led to transgres-
sion of the commandments of
God. One example is cited
by Christ. He said the law
commanded, Honor thy father
and thy mother; and whose
curseth father or mother, let
him die the death" The man.
made traditions taught, eff a
man shall say to his father or
mother, 1t is Corban that is to
say, a gift, by whatsoever thou
mightest be profited by me,
shall be free" "Corban" was
the word which meant an Of
fering or a gift given to the
temple or the priests which
meant that he had taken VOW
of obligation and that released
the son from any duty toward
his father or mother according
to this tradition. This would
benefit the son and also the
priest, but unscripturally re-
lease him from his moral OBJ
legation to his parents. But
God has ordained, and reveal
ed through the life and teach
ing of Jesus Christ on family
relationships, that honor of
parent is in keeping with His
Will IOT man.
THE ENLARGING SENSE
OF FAMILY:
The influence which Jesus
brings to bear on the whole
idea OF family is no where
more important than at this
point. He gives priority to the
family spirit above blood re-
lationship. On the cross, He
points out John to His mother
as her "son" and His mother
to John as his mother" The
same emphasis had been made
before in unmistakable terms.
"Whosoever does the will of
A n.