Jesus' Teaching on Honoring Him and the Father in Gospels
Jesus' teaching on honoring him and the Father is deeply rooted in the concept of divine unity and the relationship between God and humanity. Central to this teaching is the declaration in John 5:23, where Jesus states, "that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him" [3]. This verse establishes a direct link between honoring the Son and honoring the Father, implying that disrespecting one is disrespecting the other [10].
This concept is further illuminated by Jesus' own actions and prayers. In John 17:1, Jesus prays, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you" [2]. This prayer highlights a reciprocal glorification between the Father and the Son, where the Son's glory is intrinsically tied to the Father's, and vice-versa [5]. The Father's intention in giving all judgment to the Son is precisely "that men should thus honor Him" [10]. Augustine, in his homilies on John, connects this honor to the resurrection of souls, stating that the Son works the resurrection of souls in the same manner as the Father, so that all may honor the Son "even as they honor the Father" [15].
The command to honor parents, found in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16) and reiterated by Jesus (Matthew 15:4, 19:19), provides a foundational understanding of honor [1, 4, 9]. This commandment is considered so imperative that speaking evil of one's parents was punishable by death [4, 8]. Jewish tradition, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud, equates the honor due to parents with the honor due to God, noting that the term "honor" is used in both contexts (Exodus 20:11 and Proverbs 3:9) [13, 14]. Ramban (Nachmanides) explains that a father is akin to a creator in relation to his offspring, being a partner with God in forming the child [7]. This patriarchal authority is seen as a likeness of God's authority over His creatures [6].
Jesus' teaching extends this principle of honor to himself, asserting that the Father will honor those who serve Jesus [11]. This demonstrates that the honor given to Jesus is not separate from, but rather integral to, the honor due to God the Father. The analogy of God as a father to his children forms the basis for Jesus' teaching about God's fatherhood [12].
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 19:19 (NASB) — HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."”
- John “Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; -- John 17:1”
- John “that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him. -- John 5:23”
- Matthew “For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ -- Matthew 15:4”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Father — The position and authority of the father as the head of the family are expressly assumed and sanctioned in Scripture, as a likeness of that of the Almighty over his creatures. It lies of course at the root of that so-called patriarchal government, (Genesis 3:16; 1 Corinthians 11:3) which was introductory to the more definite systems which followed, and which in part, but not wholly, superseded it. The father's blessing was regarded as conferring special benefit, but his malediction special injury, on those on whom it fell, (Genesis 9:25,27; 27:27-40; 48:15,20”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Exodus 20:12: HONOR THY FATHER. Having finished all that we are obligated towards the Creator Himself and His glory, He turns now to command us about those matters which concern created beings. He begins with the father, for in relation to his offspring, he is akin to a creator, being partner with Him in the forming of the child. 471 Kiddushin 30 b: “There are three partners in man: the Holy One, blessed be He, his father and his mother.” G-d is our first Father, and he who begets it [i.e., the child] is our last male parent. This is why He said in the Book of Deuterono”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 9. EXPLANATION OF "CORBAN." (part 1): Jesus, however, does not accuse them with reference to a tradition of the Jewish elders, but with regard to two most imperative commandments of God, the one of which was the fifth in the decalogue, being as follows: "Honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and that thy days may be long on the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee;"(4) and the other was written thus in Leviticus, "If a man speak evil of his father or his mother, let him die the death; he has spoken e”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 15:4: For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother-- (Deu 5:16). and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death-- (Exo 21:17).”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 5:23: honour the Son as . . . the Father--As he who believes that Christ in the foregoing verses has given a true account of His relation to the Father must of necessity hold Him entitled to the same honor as the Father, so He here adds that it was the Father's express intention in making over all judgment to the Son, that men should thus honor Him. honoureth not the Father--does not do it in fact, whatever he may imagine, and will be held as not doing it by the Father Himself, who will accept no homage which is not accorded to His own Son.”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 12:26: If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: If any man serve me, him will my Father honour--Jesus here claims the same absolute subjection to Himself, as the law of men's exaltation to honor, as He yielded to the Father.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 103:13: 103:13 The Lord is like a father to his children: This analogy forms the basis for Jesus’ teaching about God’s fatherhood (see Matt 5:43-48; 6:1; 10:19-20; 12:50; Luke 6:36; 12:29-32; John 8:31-59; 15:1-8; see also 2 Sam 7:14; Jer 3:19; 31:9; Mal 1:6; 2 Cor 6:16-18).”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 165a.60:18: The Sages taught that it is stated: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:11), and it is stated: “Honor the Lord with your wealth” (Proverbs 3:9). In this manner, the verse equates the honor of one’s father and mother to the honor of the Omnipresent, as the term “honor” is used in both cases.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 30b.18: The Sages taught that it is stated: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:11), and it is stated: “Honor the Lord with your wealth” (Proverbs 3:9). In this manner, the verse equates the honor of one’s father and mother to the honor of the Omnipresent, as the term “honor” is used in both cases.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER V. 19-40. (part 16): He saith, "Even as the Father raiseth the dead, and quickeneth them, so also the Son quickeneth whom He will." That, then, the Father and the Son together. But this concerning the resurrection of bodies: "The Father judgeth not any man, but hath given all judgment to the Son; that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." This is referred to the resurrection of souls. "That all may honor the Son." How? "Even as they honor the Father." For the Son works the resurrection of souls in the same manner as the Fathe”