Leviticus 19:3
Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's striking that the command to "revere your mother and father" is immediately followed by "keep my Sabbaths." This isn't just about respecting parents; it highlights that filial obedience has its limits. If parents were to lead their children astray, even to the point of desecrating the Sabbath, God's command takes precedence.
This verse is part of the Holiness Code, a section of Leviticus focused on how Israel should live as a holy people set apart for God. It begins a series of specific commands in chapter 19, moving from broader principles to practical applications for daily life. Following commands about sacrifice and justice, it directly links familial respect with obedience to God's commands, specifically the Sabbath, establishing a foundational expectation for their community's sacred life.
When God tells us to 'fear' our parents, it's not about being scared. It’s a deep, profound respect that shapes our whole world.
The word 'fear' here isn't about terror, but a profound reverence. It encompasses:
This reverence is the bedrock of family life, which in turn is the foundation for a healthy society and spiritual life.
What happens when your parents ask you to do something that goes against God's Word? This verse gives us a crucial clue.
Leviticus 19:3 places the command to honor parents right next to the command to keep God's Sabbaths. This isn't accidental. It highlights a critical principle:
Understand the original words
yare · Hebrew Verb
To stand in awe of, fear, or respect with deep reverence. It involves honoring the authority and status of another, particularly parents in the context of divine law.
shabbat · Hebrew Noun
The seventh day set apart by God for rest and worship, commemorating His creation and deliverance. It functions as a sign of the covenant between God and His people.
This passage is the direct commandment from the Decalogue, emphasizing reverence and obedience to parents as foundational to a God-honoring life.
Ephesians 6:1-3The Apostle Paul directly quotes and applies the commandment regarding parents, highlighting it as 'the first commandment with a promise,' underscoring its vital importance for blessing.
Proverbs 1:8-9This proverb echoes the sentiment of Leviticus, linking the instruction to 'honor your father' and 'heed your mother' with receiving lasting honor and life.
Deuteronomy 5:16This parallel passage from Deuteronomy reiterates the command to honor father and mother, framing it as essential for well-being and a long life in the land God gives.
bensonLeviticus 19:3: "Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God."
Leviticus 19:3 . His mother — The mother is put first, partly because the practice of this duty begins there, mothers, by perpetual converse, being sooner known to their children than their fathers; and partly because this duty is commonly neglected to the mother, upon whom children have not so much dependance as they have upon their father. And this fear includes the two great du…
clarkeLeviticus 19:3: "Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God."
Ye shall fear every man his mother, etc. - Ye shall have the profoundest reverence and respect for them. See Clarke's note on Genesis 48:12 , and see Clarke's note on Exodus 20:8 , and see Clarke's note on Exodus 20:12 .
It's striking that the command to "revere your mother and father" is immediately followed by "keep my Sabbaths." This isn't just about respecting parents; it highlights that filial obedience has its limits. If parents were to lead their children astray, even to the point of desecrating the Sabbath, God's command takes precedence.
This verse is part of the Holiness Code, a section of Leviticus focused on how Israel should live as a holy people set apart for God. It begins a series of specific commands in chapter 19, moving from broader principles to practical applications for daily life. Following commands about sacrifice and justice, it directly links familial respect with obedience to God's commands, specifically the Sabbath, establishing a foundational expectation for their community's sacred life.
This verse is part of the Holiness Code, a section of Leviticus focused on how Israel should live as a holy people set apart for God. It begins a series of specific commands in chapter 19, moving from broader principles to practical applications for daily life. Following commands about sacrifice and justice, it directly links familial respect with obedience to God's commands, specifically the Sabbath, establishing a foundational expectation for their community's sacred life.
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Why is the Sabbath mentioned right after honoring parents? It's a powerful statement about who is ultimately in charge of our lives.
The inclusion of 'keep my Sabbaths' alongside the commandment to revere parents serves a vital purpose:
"Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God." — It's striking that the command to "revere your mother and father" is immediately followed by "keep my Sabbaths." This isn't just about respecting parents; it highlights that filial obedience has its…
