Commands, Promises, and Warnings

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin introduces his sermon series 'Now Concerning' and states his intention to preach directly to children and young people on the topic of honoring and obeying parents…

Martin uses the analogy of a hunter's rifle scope and crosshairs to vividly communicate that the children are the direct and explicit target of his sermon, ensuring they understand the personal nature of his message.

However, this morning, I want to reverse that. I want to preach directly and explicitly to you children and to you young people with only an occasional reference to the parents. You will be in the crosshairs of my preaching this morning. Now, you know what I mean when I say crosshairs. If you have an uncle or a father or a friend who goes hunting and he has a good deer rifle with a scope, and when he goes out and he gets his deer in his scope, what he wants to do is to find that place just behind the shoulder and down a little bit where he can bring the deer down with one shot, and the way he ...

2:19 - 3:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin expounds Ephesians 6:1-3, explaining the commands to 'obey' and 'honor' parents for minor children, emphasizing that obedience is 'in the Lord' (within Christ's authority)…

Martin imagines children in the Ephesian church struggling to grasp the deep theological truths of Ephesians 1-5, highlighting the contrast with the simple, direct commands given to them in chapter 6.

Now can you imagine the children trying to hang in there all the way from Ephesians 1, 2, 3. All the way from Ephesians 1, 2, 3. All the way from Ephesians 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Can you imagine the children trying to grasp, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him, in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good p...

9:22 - 10:01 Read in full sermon

The point: Look the devil in the eye and say no to his lie that God's commands are restrictive; embrace God's command to obey parents for a good and long life.

Martin tells a humorous anecdote about a child connecting the white hair and long life of two elderly church members to the promise of a long life for those who obey their parents, illustrating the truth of God's promise.

It is to be found in the way of obeying your parents of honoring your mother and your father. That's God's promise. He's saying to you kids when the devil comes to you like he came to Eve and he says no that command children obey your parents honor your father and your mother that's not the way of blessedness that's the way of restriction that's the way of keeping you tied up in yourself you won't find what life is all about what joy is all about what fun is all about you've got to bust the traces that mom and dad have put around you look the devil in the eye and say no! God says if I obey the...

42:11 - 43:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Look the devil in the eye and say no to his lie that God's commands are restrictive; embrace God's command to obey parents for a good and long life.

Martin explains the cultural significance of a 'chaplet, a garland of grace unto your head' and 'chains about your neck' from Proverbs, illustrating that obedience brings honor, dignity, and beauty in the eyes of others and God.

with all of its trials with all of its burdens I can say honestly in terms of this text life is good I wouldn't want to live here forever it's not heaven it's not home but it's the good life dear children that's God's promise to you you want the good life while you're a child embrace this command of God appended with its wonderful promise the good life the long life but then turn to Proverbs and see what the promise is there God is enticing us with another nuance of the promise listen hear the instruction of your father do not forsake the law of your mother for he's going to give him a reason ...

45:08 - 46:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Look the devil in the eye and say no to his lie that God's commands are restrictive; embrace God's command to obey parents for a good and long life.

Martin references Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon receiving gold chains as symbols of their high position and honor, further explaining the meaning of the 'chain about the neck' in Proverbs.

but I think we can say with relative safety the gold chain around the neck was the symbol of beauty and again of some measure of honor and so what the writer of Proverbs is saying son listen to what your daddy tells you don't forsake what your mama tells you for this life will bring you true honor true dignity and true beauty and you know where that is most wonderfully exemplified in our blessed Lord Jesus we're going to open that up more fully God willing tonight but I want to reference it now remember in Luke chapter 2 12 years of age Jesus goes up to the feast in Jerusalem with his parents ...

48:04 - 49:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Look the devil in the eye and say no to his lie that God's commands are restrictive; embrace God's command to obey parents for a good and long life.

Martin uses the example of 12-year-old Jesus, after his encounter in the temple, returning to Nazareth and being subject to Mary and Joseph, despite their limited understanding, as the ultimate illustration of honoring and obeying parents.

but I think we can say with relative safety the gold chain around the neck was the symbol of beauty and again of some measure of honor and so what the writer of Proverbs is saying son listen to what your daddy tells you don't forsake what your mama tells you for this life will bring you true honor true dignity and true beauty and you know where that is most wonderfully exemplified in our blessed Lord Jesus we're going to open that up more fully God willing tonight but I want to reference it now remember in Luke chapter 2 12 years of age Jesus goes up to the feast in Jerusalem with his parents ...

48:04 - 49:30 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I tell you kids this ain't no laughing stuff I don't care how old you are if you're a child this is God's word to you the eye that mocks at his father and despises to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick i…

Martin discusses the terrifying warning from Proverbs 20:20 about a lamp being put out in darkness, suggesting it might be a preview of outer darkness, to emphasize the severity of God's judgment for cursing parents.

out in the blackness of darkness I've scoured my commentators I don't know what that means but it sure ain't something pleasant to have one's lamp put out in the blackness of darkness in a situation where you didn't have electric power and street lights and people say the darkness of that section of the world when there is darkness is a frightening horrible thing Jesus picks up on it again and again cast him into outer darkness there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth maybe this is a spirit inspired preview of that horrible place of outer darkness I do not know but if I were a kid ...

56:53 - 58:19 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I tell you kids this ain't no laughing stuff I don't care how old you are if you're a child this is God's word to you the eye that mocks at his father and despises to obey his mother the ravens of the valley shall pick i…

Martin uses the graphic imagery from Proverbs 30:17 of ravens picking out the eyes of those who mock their father and despise their mother, to convey the extreme disgrace and judgment God places on such disobedience.

out in the blackness of darkness I've scoured my commentators I don't know what that means but it sure ain't something pleasant to have one's lamp put out in the blackness of darkness in a situation where you didn't have electric power and street lights and people say the darkness of that section of the world when there is darkness is a frightening horrible thing Jesus picks up on it again and again cast him into outer darkness there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth maybe this is a spirit inspired preview of that horrible place of outer darkness I do not know but if I were a kid ...

56:53 - 58:19 Read in full sermon