證道集

15 Whoever strikes father or mother shall be put to death.
17 Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.
Outline:

I) Death penalty for those who fail to honour parents
Supplementary text:
Deuteronomy 21:18-21

18 If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father and mother, who does not heed them when they discipline him,
19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the gate of that place.
20 They shall say to the elders of his town, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.’
21 Then all the men of the town shall stone him to death. So you shall purge the evil from your midst; and all Israel will hear, and be afraid.

Parental roles in Moses’ day include:
1. Spiritual role: Bearer of wisdom and faith
2. Familial role: Giver and provider of life
3. Societal role: Leader and ruler in a tribal society

II. Failing to honour authority fails to honour the God that ordains authority
Supplementary text:
Matthew 15:3-6

3 He answered them, ‘And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
4 For God said, “Honour your father and your mother,” and, “Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.”
5 But you say that whoever tells father or mother, “Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God”, then that person need not honour the father.
6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God.

Sermon Notes

Romans 13:1-2
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement.

2 Peter 2:10
10 —especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority.
Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,

Jude 1:7-8
7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
8 Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones.

III. Honour God ordained authority
Part 1 – Spiritual authority

Supplementary text:
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13a
12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you;
13a esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing—for that would be harmful to you.

Part 2 – Familial authority (next sermon)
Part 3 – Societal authority (sermon after next)