Bulletin Articles
Honor Your Mother
“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). It is appropriate to think about the roles of father and mother as those who have had the most impact in our lives. While we often focus on the men who were integral to the plan of God revealed in the word, we should equally remember the great influence of women. From Eve to Mary or from Ruth to Eunice, women’s roles in shaping both the world around us and the salvation in Christ are beyond measure.
Paul’s reminder to Timothy highlights the importance of this on a personal level: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2 Tim 1:5). This made it so that “from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15). Never underestimate the value and significance of what mothers (and grandmothers) do.
Let’s think briefly about mothers in the book of Proverbs. First, note that both folly and wisdom are personified as women (see chapters 7-9). While the warning against following lady folly is critical, just as important is the exhortation to listen to lady wisdom. Read Proverbs 7:1-5 and note the need to treasure wisdom as a sister and friend. It is within this context of listening to wisdom that hearers are told to listen to mothers. A mother’s teaching is not to be forsaken (1:8). It is the foolish son who is a sorrow to and despises his mother (10:1; 15:20). One who chases away his mother brings shame and reproach (19:26), and the one who curses father and mother has his lamp put out (likely a reference to a shortened life — see Exodus 20:12; Eph 6:1-3). Mothers are not to be despised (23:22), but should rather be able to rejoice in her children (23:25). Godly mothers and wisdom go hand in hand.
We should also appreciate that it is a mother giving instructions to her son in Proverbs 31: “The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him” (v. 1). Note, too, that her son was a king. Yet he still needed to listen to his mother. She taught her son not to give his strength to women or wine. He was told to open his mouth for the mute and judge righteously, defending the rights of the poor and needy (Prov 31:1-9). Also in this context is the great passage that brings Proverbs to a close: an acrostic about the woman of virtue (Prov 31:10-31). What was personified as lady wisdom earlier in the book is now brought to life in a worthy woman who blesses her home and others as she fears the Lord. This is all part of a mother’s instructions to her son (yes, the passage on the virtuous woman was taught to a young man!).
The point to take away is that there is a connection in Scripture between a righteous mother and the wisdom that emanates from God. Children who listen to their mothers (and godly fathers) are going to be blessed. They and honor and obey their parents. They bring to fruition the wise, godly attitudes, and counsel that their parents sought to instill within them. Parents are not to be despised or forsaken as they age. Rather, they are to be cherished, loved, and given due credit for their part in raising children that ought to bring blessings to the world.
There are reasons why we know something of the mother of Jesus. She was especially chosen as the mother of the Lord as He entered this world. When Elizabeth greeted Mary (both of whom were with child), she said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:42-45). Mary believed and was blessed, and she had the privilege of being “the mother of my Lord.” She raised Him as God desired. She suffered when Jesus suffered; she was pierced through when He was pierced. She stayed close to Him all the way through.
Let us, then, honor our mothers who rejoiced with us, cried with us, suffered with us, and will love us to the end. A godly mother is one of the greatest blessings given by God. Listen to her wisdom and counsel. Know that she longs to protect us from harm and will love us always. We ought to be deeply grateful. And remember, though we may lose an earthly mother, we have many more in the Lord by whom we are richly blessed (see Mark 10:28-30).
