Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Honour thy father and thy mother - by expressions of respect and reverence for them, as instrumentally the representatives of God, and by every token of attention and considerate regard for their support and comfort. This commandment holds a high place in the rank of social duties, and comes next in order after the law of the Sabbath, with which it is associated (Leviticus 19:3). Love is the sentiment required to be cherished toward our fellow-men (Leviticus 19:18), but honour or 'fear' toward parents. There is a solitary instance of apparent neglect to His mother in the life of Jesus; but His conduct, as explained by Himself, was perfectly consistent with the utmost respect to His human parents (Luke 2:49).
This commandment, in its spirit and legitimate range, extends beyond natural parents to rulers, who existed at the time of its delivery in the form of patriarchal governors (Exodus 22:28; Genesis 45:8; Judges 5:7), as well as to prophets and teachers, who are frequently called "fathers" (2 Kings 2:12; 2 Kings 13:1-25; 2 Kings 14:1-29: cf. Psalms 34:11; Psalms 45:10; Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 1:10; Proverbs 1:15).
That thy days may be long upon the land - i:e., that thou mayest live long in the land; said either of the Israelites collectively, that if they were distinguished by a race of obedient children they would enjoy a lengthened possession of the land of promise, or with regard to individuals, that by piety and righteousness they would, through the natural tendency of these, as well as by the blessing of God secured by them, attain a protracted longevity (Deuteronomy 6:2) in this world, which will be the pledge and prelude of eternal life in the next.
In Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 22:7, as well as in Ephesians 6:3, the additional clause, "that it may be well with thee," is inserted apparently with no other view than to bring out the meaning more fully. Those who walk in the ways of the Lord find, as the general course of history and experience attests, this divine premise fulfilled. A remarkable instance is recorded in Scripture, (Jeremiah 35:1-19.) To this day the Rechabites are living monuments of the truth of this promise ('Journal' of Dr. Joseph Wolff).-The commandments in the second table of the law relate to violations of social order-in deed, in word, and in thought or desire. The first three stand in our present Hebrew Bibles is the following order;-prohibitions of acts against life, marriage, and property. In the Septuagint they are arranged differently-marriage, property, and life.