The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 108

Jct us talce tho rost grntefulJy. 2. As citizens, we have a trust to guard for our felJow- countrymcn. Legislation can never dired a man how to spend his rest-day, but it may ,lo something to guard it for him. While we use the rest wisely, so that it makes u~ not only brisker animals, but holier men, let us also give others the rest. 3. As Christians, we have a sacred day for sanctuary worship, and for home and school in- Rlruction. Wo should do everything to show the young that the Sunday is a bri~ht, light, cheery day, remembering that whatever helps best to health, rest, war.ship, and lwlinrss is, and always has been, lawful on the sabbath day. 4. As workers for God, the rest day is our glorious day of special service for Christ and for souls, in the very fatiguo of which the spirit finds refreshment. Theo surely we enter into the Master's spirit. Our meat is to dci the will of him who bath sent us, and to finish his work. Ver. 16.-Thefifth commandment. Ilonoitr due to parents; or, the religion of homtJ life. Many are the passages in the Word of God which speak of or refer to the duty of children to their parents; e.g. Exod. xxi.15, 17; Lev. xix. 3; xx. 9; eh. xxi.18-21; xxvii. 16; Ps. lxxviii. 5-8; Prov. x. 1; xiii. 1; x.x. 20; xxiii. 22; xxx. 17; J er. xxxv. 18; Ezek. xxii. 7; Matt. xv. 4-9; Col. iii. 20. It is worthy of careful noting, that when God would launch forth into the world a new national life, he lays great stress on the recognition of and regard to family sacredness. At the outset of the redemption from Egypt, family life was specially hallowed (cf. Exod. xii. 24-27; xiii. 8, 9). The covenant of circumcision handed down from Abraham was to be observed. Children were to be sealed as the Lord's, and brought up in his fear. That is here assumed. It was the understood law. And now, when a moral code for the nation and for the world for all time is to be laid down, the very next precept to those relating immediately to the honour due to God himself, is this-" Honour thy father and thy mother." Not, indeed, that they were to render them a blind obedience, for see Ezek. xx. 18, 19. If the parents were bad, the best honour the children can render them is to become better than they were. So that we may note, once for all, in passing, that the commandment recognizes it as incumbent on parents to see that their lives and rules are such as their children can honour, and that their precepts accord with those of the Father of spirits. Throughout our homi- letic application of this fifth commandment, we shall assume this to be the case. It is, indeed, understood by many, that this command is to be regarded not only as requiring obedience in the family, but "as requiring the preserving the honour and performing the duties belonging to every one, in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals;" and as forbidding " the neglecting of or doing anything against the honour and duty which belongeth to every one, in their several places and relations/' Doubtless this is so.· But there is quite as much as we can compass in the brief space afforded us, in the specific duty named in the text. Let us- I. INQUIRE IN WHAT WAYS TfilS PRECEPT MAY BE FULFILLED. 1. During the earlier stages of life, while needing the fostering care and sheltering love of the hc>me, implicit obedience is a child's :first duty. We not only say that it is next to his duty to God, but that it is a purt of it. The parent's precepts may be distasteful, even ri:;id, )mt if they are right, it is the child's part implicitly to obey. 2. Honouring parents 1s the form which obedience will take when the child is growing up towards manhood. No wise parent would think of directing a lad of sixteen as closely as he would a child of six years; at the same time, th,1ngh the father may give him more liberty, it may not be either wise or right on the son's part to take all the liberty which is given. At tl~at age his own sense of honour and right ought to be sufficiently strong to guide lum; and respect and reverence for his parents will create a loyal regard to their wishes when once they are known, and will lead him to deny himself a great deal that might be gratifying to him, rather than cause pain to or cross the wishes of those to whom he owes his life. Rude words to a parent, "answering again," disputing his rule in the house, will he utterly out of the question where a youth wishes to live in the fear of G0<l. 3. Supporting them may become a duty. 'l'here will come a time, if the parents arc spared to see their children grow up in life, when they will lean on the children, rather than the children on them. If the children are worthy, they will let their parents lean on them, and will show them that they can be as faithful to their pareuts in their weakness, as foe parents when in their strength were to them. 4. Becoming au honour  THE IlvOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [en. v. 1-33.