Other Family Members
Jesus talks about honoring our father and mother. In the Old and New Covenant it says that obeying this commandment is the only commandment that came with a sure promise attached to it.
“Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Deuteronomy 5:16).
New Covenant:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the FIRST commandment WITH PROMISE;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3).
Most people are taught to respect not only their parents, but all elder peope in general. They apply this principle to all other elder family members. I’m not knocking that. The Apostle Paul also said,
“Rebuke [Gk: ‘to chastise, i.e. (with words) to upbraid:--rebuke’] not an elder [Gk: ‘the mature (both literally and spiritually):--five fold minister/leader’], but entreat him as a [literal or spiritual] father; and the younger men as brethren [literal or spiritual brothers]; the elder women as [literal or spiritual] mothers; the younger [women] as [literal and spiritual] sisters, with all purity [Gk: ‘cleanliness (the quality), i.e. (specially) chastity:--purity’]. Honor [Gk: ‘to prize, i.e. fix a valuation upon; by implication, to revere (respect):--honor, value’] widows that are widows indeed.” (1st Timothy 5:1-3).
One more Scripture from Jesus I will quote before I go into this subject, which is,
“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye [all of you] also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye [all of you religious leaders] say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye [ALL of you] made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye [All of you] hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh [near] unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:1-9).
Now it is obviously how important the parents are, or even other family members. And this is for both the single people and the married folk. And yea, I know for the married folks they have left father and mother and cleaved to become one with their spouse. So they should not be receiving advice on how God wants to start a new family with a new vision.
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