Heed Parental Instruction

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces Proverbs 1:8-9, connecting it to verse 7. He argues that true knowledge comes through both the vertical dimension (fear of God) and the horizontal (submission to…

The two dimensions of knowledge (fear of God and submission to instructors) are compared to the first and second tables of the Law, illustrating the comprehensive nature of wisdom.

It's just as though we have the first and second table of the law before us. The first table of the law has to do with loving the Lord thy God with all thy might. And the second table has to do, with our love to our neighbor. And so if we would be made wise with that wisdom that Solomon is going to deal with, we must have the fear of the Lord.

7:02 - 7:24 Read in full sermon

The point: If you truly fear the Lord, show it by submitting to the instructors He places over you.

The story of the Ethiopian eunuch needing Philip to teach him the scriptures illustrates that God generally imparts wisdom through human vessels, not immediately.

A man who has his Bible may be made wise with all the wisdom he needs in order to live life to the glory of God. But generally speaking, God does not impart the wisdom even of the scriptures immediately, but he imparts it immediately. Immediately. You remember the example in the New Testament?

7:58 - 8:17 Read in full sermon

The point: If you truly fear the Lord, show it by submitting to the instructors He places over you.

Timothy's knowledge of the scriptures from childhood, taught by his grandmother and mother, further exemplifies God's principle of mediated wisdom through family.

How can I except some man teach me? And so Philip, from that point in scripture, preached unto him Jesus. Timothy had the scriptures as a child. From a child thou hast known the scriptures.

8:26 - 8:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explores the first assumption of the command: that parents are actively giving positive, rational, and authoritative instruction and law to their children, a responsibility…

The analogy of assembling a toy with instructions is used to explain that 'instruction' implies positive, rational directions for how to put life together, not just arbitrary rules.

Why do I use those words positive, rational, authoritative? Because the words instruction and law in the text have those ideas bound up in them. Notice, hear the instructions of thy father. Now, like it or not, some of us don't like it, but like it or not, this is, quote, the Christmas season.

20:33 - 20:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Young people, remember that starry eyes lead to marriage and parenthood; choose a spouse who will provide united instruction to your children, avoiding unequal yoking.

The united instruction of parents is likened to a 'beautiful symphony' in an orchestra pit with the same conductor, emphasizing harmony and shared purpose.

He assumes that the instruction of the father and the law of the mother will be in the same ballpark and that the game is being played according to the same rules. Hear the instruction of thy father. Forsake not the law of thy mother. Different voice, different instrument, same tune.

25:18 - 25:40 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Solomon says do you want to be beautiful do you want to have a truly regal bearing how do you come to it he said this is how you come to it by hearing the instruction of your father and by forsaking not the law of your m…

Joseph's exaltation, marked by Pharaoh placing a gold chain about his neck, illustrates the 'chains about thy neck' as a symbol of dignity and royalty.

howdy go man you say that guy was a tiger in that game well you don't mean that he suddenly changed his color and got fangs and what you mean is he was like a tiger you use a metaphor well this is a metaphor so we've got to understand the figure then we'll get the message of it alright what is this chaplet or this ornament of grace unto thy head well as I've done some research on it the best I've been able to come up with is that it refers either to a very fancy kind of a turban that an easterner would wear or a wreath or garland for the head in chapter 4 in verse 9 in chapter 4 in verse 9 it ...

43:46 - 45:13 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Solomon says do you want to be beautiful do you want to have a truly regal bearing how do you come to it he said this is how you come to it by hearing the instruction of your father and by forsaking not the law of your m…

Belshazzar's promise of a gold chain for interpreting the writing on the wall further illustrates the chain as a symbol of power and royalty.

his signet ring from his hand every potentate every ruler had this ring by which he made a seal we had something on that a few weeks ago Sunday morning he took that signet ring off Joseph could now stamp official documents etc he put it upon Joseph's hand arrayed him in vestures of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck it was a fancy gold necklace that's what it was the chain was a necklace they did the same thing with Daniel in Daniel 5 in verse 7 let's just look at that one reference Daniel 5 and verse 7 down toward the middle of the verse the king of kings spake and said to the wis...

45:13 - 46:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Solomon says do you want to be beautiful do you want to have a truly regal bearing how do you come to it he said this is how you come to it by hearing the instruction of your father and by forsaking not the law of your m…

The universal dream of little girls to be beautiful and royal is used to explain that God's promise of a 'chaplet of grace' and 'chains about thy neck' fulfills these desires in a spiritual, true sense.

he shall be third ruler so whereas the chaplet of grace upon the head speaks particularly of an ornament of beauty the chains of gold about the neck speak of a sign of dignity and royalty now those are the figures what do they mean and this to me has been one of the most precious thoughts with reference to this whole matter of submission to parental instruction here's what Solomon says if you will hear the instruction of your father if you will incline your ear to embrace it and if you will retain the law of your mother two things will happen you will be made beautiful and you will be made roy...

46:39 - 48:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Solomon says do you want to be beautiful do you want to have a truly regal bearing how do you come to it he said this is how you come to it by hearing the instruction of your father and by forsaking not the law of your m…

Modern advertisements promoting a 'carefree happy-go-lucky' lifestyle and 'getting all the gusto' are used to illustrate the world's distorted view of true beauty and freedom, contrasting it with God's definition.

it's one of the benefits of being a prince it's one of the benefits of a lengthy pastor to get to know people quite well and we dream about royalty the thought of having authority and carrying oneself with royal dignity Solomon says do you want to be beautiful do you want to have a truly regal bearing how do you come to it he said this is how you come to it by hearing the instruction of your father and by forsaking not the law of your mother and in a day such as ours where we have these two strands of worldly ambition beauty and attractiveness and the lust for power what a tremendous thing you...

48:05 - 49:31 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Solomon says do you want to be beautiful do you want to have a truly regal bearing how do you come to it he said this is how you come to it by hearing the instruction of your father and by forsaking not the law of your m…

The parable of the prodigal son is used as a negative example of rejecting parental instruction, leading to disgrace, shame, and a loss of true dignity.

applied to his heart by the holy ghost he wears a chain of royalty about his neck ah that's true royalty that's true dignity for whom the sun sets free is free indeed and he is free indeed and he is free indeed and he is free indeed and he is free indeed and when we are joined with Jesus Christ we become heirs of God and joint heirs and he is wisdom incarnate and as we are brought to the knowledge of him and learn from him as he mediates his knowledge through godly parental instruction we attain to the true nobility of the sons of God who are the joint heirs with Jesus Christ what's the opposi...

52:27 - 53:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Embrace this directive to hear parental instruction so that you may be adorned with true beauty and true legal stature.

A story of a Vietnam veteran son, 23 years old, immediately obeying his father's request for a haircut, illustrates the beauty and regal bearing that comes from respectful submission to parental authority.

may the Lord give you grace to embrace this directive that you may be adorned with true beauty and with true legal stature I think one of the most beautiful things in all the world is a life that has walked in the light of this precept may I give you an illustration that came fresh to my ear this past week the home in which I would stay while I was there in Michigan very godly home mine I ought to put that clock down a little lower I'd be a little more responsible a godly home where they had two sons and I mean these boys were boys 6-3-2-40 one of them and the other one I think I forgot what t...

61:06 - 62:35 Read in full sermon