Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and mother. then you will live a long full life in the land that the LORD your God will give you.

This is the only commandment that includes a promise. But what exactly is that promise? and is this a promise that was specifically for the Israelites, or does it still apply to Christians?

And what does he mean by live a long live in the Land"? Health and wealth peeps will say that is a sign that God wants us to all live a long and healthy life, but i do not a scribe to that doctrine.

What is the land supposed to be? for the Israelites it was and is the holy land, but what is it for the rest of us?

2 comments:

matthew said...

I connect this to Jesus saying that the meek will inherit the earth. The greek for 'earth' there could just as easily be translated land.

The promise of the OT was never, in my opinion, MERELY about a plot of ground in palestine. That was just a shadow of the greater coming reality.

Those who honor their father and mother are obedient to the Lord and will inherit the new earth along with eternal life. Eternity is very long! Eternity with the Lord is very full!

But even in this life we can experience some of the glories that await us. It's plain enough to see that obeying our mother and father might very well give us practical advantages in regards to lifespan and quality of life.

Unknown said...

thank you for your insight matthew. as I meditated on this verse i found myself in a pondary.