Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
Most think that the 5th commandment primarily involves honoring father and mother. But really the main thrust of the 5thcommandment is inheritance. The promise is “that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Paul says almost the same thing but substitutes the word “land” for “earth” (Eph. 6:3). This is significant. Moses meant “land,” meaning the promised land of Canaan, but Paul meant “earth,” as in the whole world. So, by honoring and obeying our parents, we receive the inheritance of the whole world! Jesus said it in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
Families must learn that God’s people inherit the whole world. Everything! Everything is for God’s people! We must teach our children that this world is theirs if they obey the Lord. The forefathers of our nation came here for this reason. The world was theirs, and they staked their claim, not by their own power, nor by their own might, but by God’s Spirit (Zech. 4:6). We must share this vision of triumph and prosperity with our children.
