Mother's Day WeekendSample

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:1

At the time of creation, God established the figure of a mother when He created Eve from the rib of Adam. Eve was considered the mother of all living (Genesis 3:20). The importance of honoring parents is mentioned not only in the Old Testament but also in the New: Matthew 15:4, Matthew 19:19, Mark 7:10, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, and Ephesians 6:2.

These scriptures are repeated for a reason: God wanted all humans to understand the significance of honoring their fathers and mothers. Honoring parents is connected to a long life.

The ancient Greek name for mother is untepa, meaning "the one who gives birth." In Hebrew, the modern term for mother is Eema, derived from Am or Em. A mother is considered a strong water giver of life.

When we think of a mother, we think of how babies were developed in the amniotic fluid of her womb, providing all the necessary nutrients and antibodies for the baby’s growth. These nutrients even help develop cells that assist the infant in fighting off infection. God created the mother’s body to produce milk to feed her child once it is born. Truly, a mother and baby are miracles of God!

While there are cases of women who give birth to babies and abandon or do not care for them, for the most part, mothers will love their offspring for their entire lives. Even after a child has left home and started his or her own family, the bond between a mother and child remains inseparable.

As we continue this study, I felt it was important to begin with the fifth commandment because in today’s world, there seems to be less and less respect for parents. The younger generation may not realize the significance that God placed on parents.

PRAYER: Father God, we thank You for the creation of mothers and for designing them to carry and bring forth life. Thank You for the intricacies of mothers' bodies designed to reproduce. We pray for those who did not experience the love of a mother in the way You intended. May they experience a mother’s love through You. In Jesus' name, amen