A short and helpful overview of the fifth commandment.
First of all, I think we should notice God doesn’t say, “Obey your parents.” He says, “Honor your father and mother.” Now, there’s a reason for that. We are always to honor our parents because they gave us our life and they nurtured us. When we’re young and at home, that honor takes the form of obedience. When we’re older and perhaps married with our own children, we’ve begun a new family group. We’re no longer under the authority of our parents the way we once were. We have left that family structure and started a new one. That’s why the Bible never says to adults, “Obey your parents.” But we’re still to honor them.