Respect the Generations || Galatians 6:2 || Manna for the Mind #126

Welcome to Day 126 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about taking scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses) and building our understanding of their teachings through their context and connecting scripture. I believe that doing this helps us understand how to be the type of human that God created us to be.

Today’s passage is Galatians 6:2, in which we’ll discuss the importance of honoring your parents.

Before we get into this, you will hear me reference the standard mother-father dynamic. The Bible does not account for the father-father or mother-mother household or other family members raising children as their own. Some of us may not have a healthy relationship with our mother or dad. Take this passage to think about those who raised you and recognize their impact on your life.

Galatians 6:2

AMP	NLT	VOICE
2 Honor [esteem, value as precious] your Father and your Mother [and be respectful to them] – this is the first commandment with a promise –	2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:	2 This is the first commandment onto which He added a promise: “Honor your father and your mother, and”

Paul is sharing with the church in Ephesus the relationship between children and parents should be. Children should obey their parents because they can find good things and have a long life. Now, this sounds harsh, but it’s a quoted verse. Paul is quoting Exodus 20:12.

Exodus 20:12

12         “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

This is the fifth commandment out of the ten given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Have no other gods but God; have no idols; don’t take God’s name in vain; keep the Sabbath holy; then this. The first command that teaches us to care for another person. At this point, the Israelites were just preparing to enter the promised land. God wanted them to care for their parents out of the importance of living a new life in a new land led by the rules and guidance of God. God didn’t want the next generation to revolt against the last generation. God wanted to ensure this new land would be the final restorative point to return creation to Eden.

What should we take away from this verse? Respect the previous generations. Granted, no one ever got it right, and no one will get it right but those who made progress for the betterment of the next generation. We still have to remember to treat everyone with respect. You don’t have to like what they did, but your fight isn’t with them as a human but with them and their agenda. I’m reminded of Paul’s words that I will leave you. It’s actually 10 verses after our focus passage. The full circle comes around, thanks to the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 6:12

12         For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against might powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.