February 5, 2026

Today's Reading: Catechism: Fourth Commandment

Daily Lectionary: Job 2:1-3:10; John 1:19-34

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Honor your father and your mother.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

The Fourth Commandment is simple to understand. Even small children know they should listen to their parents. The issue is not understanding, but rather obeying.

This should not be difficult. After all, this command includes a promise: a long and peaceful life in the land the Lord gives. And this truth is not hidden from our everyday experience. Where there is order, peace, and respect for authority, communities thrive. Where there is disobedience, rebellion, and lawlessness, there is often pain, instability, and ruin.

God has structured His creation with relationships of authority and submission, such as parents and children, teachers and students, employers and workers, and governments and citizens. We may try to flatten these differences in the name of equality, but the reality remains that we live in a world of hierarchy. This is by God’s design, and that design is good.

This is not to say every authority is perfect. No parent, pastor, teacher, or governor rules without flaw. Yet Scripture teaches that all legitimate authority is given by God to preserve order and serve the good of others. So, the Fourth Commandment does not only speak to children and citizens. It also calls those in authority to act with fairness, humility, and care for those under their authority. Leadership is not a license to dominate; it is a God-given duty to serve.

When authority works as God intends, it is a Gift. It brings stability, direction, and peace. Obedience to this commandment honors God because it reflects trust in the order He has established for our good.

Still, we must admit that we have not kept this commandment. We have rebelled against parents, scoffed at teachers, and disrespected officials. But where we fail, Christ does not. He submitted perfectly to His earthly parents and to His heavenly Father, even to death on a cross.

Because of Jesus, our disobedience is forgiven. In Baptism, we are raised to new life. God’s grace not only forgives our failures, but it also gives us the eyes to see that structure and authority are good Gifts given for our benefit and the benefit of those around us.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, as you honored your mother, Mary, and earthly father Joseph, help me to likewise honor, obey, love, and respect my father and mother. Teach me to love them as You have loved me and grant each of us to grow in faith and the knowledge of Your wholesome Word. Amen.

Rev. Christopher Brademeyer, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.

Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.