Honoring Parents and Authorities: The Fourth Commandment

Devotional

Day 1: When God’s Mirror Shows Cracks in Our Righteousness

The Ten Commandments act like a spiritual mirror, revealing our deepest failures rather than congratulating our moral efforts. They expose how often we’ve chosen rebellion over surrender, self-interest over divine love. What feels like a list of rules becomes a window into our need for grace. The more we study them, the more we see our helplessness—and the brighter Christ’s forgiveness shines. Only when we stop justifying ourselves can we truly cry out for mercy. [21:50]

“So the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”
(Galatians 3:24, ESV)

Reflection: Where has studying the Commandments recently exposed a hidden rebellion in your heart? How might confessing this specific struggle deepen your gratitude for Christ’s forgiveness?

Day 2: Honoring the Unworthy Parents God Chose

The fourth commandment doesn’t hinge on a parent’s worthiness but on God’s sovereign choice. Even abusive or distant parents carry a sacred role as instruments in His design. Honoring them becomes an act of trusting God’s larger story, not endorsing their failures. This obedience stretches believers to separate the gift of parental authority from the flawed humans exercising it. [27:18]

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
(Exodus 20:12, ESV)

Reflection: What unresolved hurt toward a parental figure might God be asking you to surrender to His healing? How could honoring them—even from a distance—become an act of worship?

Day 3: When Your President Feels Like Heaven’s Mistake

God installs leaders not as endorsements of their policies but as tests of our trust in His sovereignty. Mocking a president’s flaws often masks rebellion against the God who permitted their rise. Romans 13 reframes political opponents as divine appointments, calling believers to critique policies while cherishing the office. Disagreement must never decay into disdain. [30:42]

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed.”
(Romans 13:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What specific phrase or attitude about a leader you dislike might need repentance? How could praying for them shift your heart this week?

Day 4: The Holy Spirit’s Grip on Our Gossiping Tongues

Human willpower cannot tame the urge to slander authorities. Only the Spirit’s fire can melt cynicism into intercession, transforming complaints into petitions. Every critical word about a leader first passes through Christ’s scarred hands—a reality that should temper our speech. Obedience here becomes a reliance drill, proving our need for divine intervention. [34:14]

“And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
(Ezekiel 36:27, ESV)

Reflection: What recent conversation about an authority figure revealed your need for the Spirit’s restraint? How might pausing to pray before speaking alter your relationships?

Day 5: Grace for the Commandment-Breakers

The law’s ultimate purpose isn’t to shame but to drive us to the cross where every failure finds redemption. Our repeated stumbles under the fourth commandment—whether with parents or presidents—become altars to worship the One who fulfilled it perfectly. Confession here isn’t defeat but liberation, exchanging our ragged obedience for Christ’s flawless record. [33:03]

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: Which specific failure to honor authority weighs heaviest on you today? How does Christ’s forgiveness free you to extend grace to yourself and others?

Sermon Summary

The Ten Commandments stand as the best summary of how God wants Christians to live. The commandments do not only show the right path. The commandments also show how horribly sinful the human heart is, and how seldom the heart keeps what God says. Sin says to God, “I do not want to do what you say.” God’s law makes plain that no sinner can keep himself out of hell by his own power, because sin without forgiveness brings judgment.

The gospel begins to shine when the commandments have done their work. God knows every sin, every rejection, every turning away. Yet God says that through faith in Jesus Christ, all sins are forgiven. The law exposes the failure, and Christ gives the mercy. That is why the commandments are not pushed aside. They are studied so that the need for Jesus becomes plain and the cry of the heart becomes, “Help me.”

The fourth commandment says, “Honor your father and your mother.” The commandment does not say, honor good parents if they loved well and raised their children right. The commandment simply says to honor father and mother, because God chose them and put them in that place. The commandment still recognizes that no authority may be obeyed when that authority commands disobedience to God. Yet the ordinary call remains: honor those whom God has placed over a person.

The fourth commandment also reaches beyond parents to other authorities. Luther’s explanation says that Christians should not despise or anger parents or other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them. Romans 13:2 says that the one who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and brings judgment on himself. That word becomes very real when the authority is a president, leader, or official whom a person deeply disagrees with.

God is the almighty ruler of heaven and earth, and God allows rulers to hold office. Therefore, badmouthing leaders is not a small thing. Badmouthing says, in effect, “God, you fouled up by putting this person in charge.” Disagreement is allowed in a freedom-loving country, but speaking evil of God-given leaders is rebellion against God’s ordering of authority.

The forgiveness of Christ remains full and free, even for sins against the fourth commandment. But forgiven sinners still face the challenge of honoring those in authority, especially when disagreement is strong. The sinful heart cannot do this by its own power and strength. Only the Holy Spirit can give the faith, humility, and self-control needed to honor those God has placed over people.

Key Takeaways

1. Commandments expose the need for mercy [22:44] The law does not flatter the sinner or make disobedience look harmless. The commandments uncover the hard truth that the heart has failed again and again to do what God says. That exposure is painful, but it is also merciful, because the gospel shines brightest when the sinner has stopped pretending to be righteous. [22:44]
2. Honor is not the same as agreement [28:40] The fourth commandment does not require admiration for every decision an authority makes. Honor means recognizing the place God has allowed that authority to occupy. A Christian may disagree strongly, but disagreement must not become contempt, slander, or a refusal to acknowledge God’s ordering of life. [28:40]
3. Authority stands under God’s rule [29:24] Romans 13:2 makes authority more than a political issue. Rebellion against rightful authority becomes rebellion against what God has instituted. That truth does not make leaders sinless, but it does make the Christian’s posture toward them a matter of obedience before God. [29:24]
4. Badmouthing leaders is spiritually serious [31:48] Careless words about authority can feel normal in everyday conversation, but Scripture treats rebellion as weighty. The tongue can accuse God indirectly by acting as though God made a mistake in allowing a ruler to govern. Christian speech must learn the difference between honest disagreement and sinful dishonor. [31:48]
5. Obedience requires the Holy Spirit [33:31] The sinful heart cannot produce true honor by willpower. The fourth commandment becomes especially difficult when authority is disappointing, frustrating, or politically opposed. The Holy Spirit alone can strengthen faith in Jesus and create the humility needed to honor those God has placed over others. [33:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:54] - Prayer for God’s Word
[20:15] - Continuing the Ten Commandments
[20:43] - Why Study the Commandments
[21:50] - Sin, Judgment, and the Gospel
[23:48] - Reviewing All Ten Commandments
[25:07] - The Fourth Commandment Begins
[26:43] - Honor Beyond Good Parents
[28:11] - Honoring Political Authorities
[29:24] - Romans 13 and Rebellion
[31:48] - The Danger of Badmouthing Leaders
[33:03] - Forgiveness Through Jesus Christ
[33:31] - The Spirit’s Power to Honor
[35:07] - Luther’s Explanation of the Fourth Commandment

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Exodus 20:12 — “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” [24:34]

Observation questions

In Exodus 20:12, what relationship is named directly, and what promise is attached to that command?
What reasons are given for spending time studying the Ten Commandments instead of setting them aside? [20:43]
What does the fourth commandment actually say, and what important condition does it not include about parents? [26:53]
In the explanation of the fourth commandment, what actions are Christians called to show toward parents and other authorities? [35:29]

Interpretation questions

If the commandment simply says, “Honor your father and your mother,” how should that shape the way a person thinks about honoring imperfect parents? [27:11]
The commandments expose how sinful the heart really is, and then the gospel shines through Christ’s forgiveness. Why is that order important for real repentance instead of pretending everything is fine? [23:07]
The fourth commandment reaches beyond parents to other authorities. What does that change about the way a Christian views leaders he or she strongly disagrees with? [28:11]
Romans 13:2 says that rebellion against authority is rebellion against what God has instituted. How does that help explain why dishonoring leaders is not just a social problem but a spiritual one? [29:44]

Application questions

Where is it hardest right now to show honor to authority—at home, at work, in church, or in public life? What usually stirs up disrespect in the heart? [33:31]
Honor is not the same as agreement. When there is strong disagreement with a parent, supervisor, official, or leader, what would honest disagreement without sinful contempt look like in actual conversation? [32:38]
Badmouthing leaders can become normal very quickly. What kinds of words, jokes, or comments cross the line from disagreement into dishonor? Where is that temptation strongest—in person, online, or with certain friends? [31:48]
Some people carry deep pain from parents who were not loving or safe. In that kind of situation, what might honoring them look like without calling evil good or obeying what is against God? [27:52]
The law is meant to bring the heart to say, “Help me.” In what area of the fourth commandment is that prayer most needed right now? [22:45]
All sins, including sins against the fourth commandment, are forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. How could that forgiveness help someone confess specific failures instead of defending them? [33:03]
The sinful heart cannot keep this commandment by its own power; only the Holy Spirit can help. What would it look like this week to ask for the Spirit’s help before speaking about someone in authority? [34:14]

Sermon Clips

70s

#RepentAndReceiveGrace

“``Simply put, as we study the commandments, we realize that we have failed miserably to keep the commandments. And, also, as we study the commandments, it gives us the opportunity to turn to our god and say, help me. I understand how I failed you, Lord. Help me. And turn to him and say, please, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I need your help. And it is only then. You see, it is only when we understand how horribly sinful we are that the gospel really begins to shine. And Jesus says to us, our god says to us, yes, I know all ever one of your sins. I know you've rejected me and turned away from me again and again and again. But now listen, through your faith in Jesus Christ, all your sins are forgiven.”

67s

#HonorThroughTheSpirit

“But as forgiven sinners, here's our challenge. How can we, even though we know we shouldn't badmouth our leaders, how can we obey this commandment and honor all those whom God has put in authority over us? Only in the very same way we're able to keep any of God's righteous commandments. We can never, by our own power and strength, obey this commandment or any of them. For with these sinful hearts, we fail. We fail again and again to keep this commandment or any of his commandments. My dear friends, it is only under the power of the holy spirit that we can honor those who that god has put an authority over us, especially those we disagree with.”

60s

#ConfessAndBeForgiven

“And, also, as we study the commandments, it gives us the opportunity to turn to our god and say, help me. I understand how I failed you, Lord. Help me. And turn to him and say, please, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I need your help. And it is only then. You see, it is only when we understand how horribly sinful we are that the gospel really begins to shine. And Jesus says to us, our god says to us, yes, I know all ever one of your sins. I know you've rejected me and turned away from me again and again and again. But now listen, through your faith in Jesus Christ, all your sins are forgiven.”

70s

#ForgivenYetDependent

“Certainly, as Christians, we know that simply through faith in Jesus and trusting him is atoning death on the cross for our for our sake. We know that simply through faith in him, all our sins, including our sins against the fourth commandment, are forgiven. But as forgiven sinners, here's our challenge. How can we, even though we know we shouldn't badmouth our leaders, how can we obey this commandment and honor all those whom God has put in authority over us? Only in the very same way we're able to keep any of God's righteous commandments. We can never, by our own power and strength, obey this commandment or any of them.”

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