We are to honor the honorable, but the Bible also tells us to honor those who should be honorable, but who may not always act honorably:
Father and Mother (Exodus 20:12)
Wives (1 Peter 3:7)
Widows (1 Timothy 5:3)
Kings (1 Peter 2:17)
These all make sense to our current definition of honor and the Bible promises if we honor our parents we will have a full life in the land God has given (Ex 20:12) that’s a bonus!
But our current definition allows us to dishonor those who aren’t honorable – and not all of our parents, or wives, or leaders have been. And the Bible doesn’t let us live with that excuse.
In fact, Peter challenges us with revolutionary living:
Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
1 Peter 2:17 (New American Standard Bible)
Let’s be clear here: the king, who Peter was telling the first readers to honor, was most likely the one who ordered his death.
Why would the Bible tell us to “Honor all people”?
It’s what the Father has done for us.
Honor is when one changes the relationship with another. It’s when you raise someone up to your level. This is what the Father did for us when we became part of His family and He seated us in heavenly places.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6 (New Living Translation)
I’ll draw this out over the next few posts. Love to hear what you think.
good day Rev. Trevor . I had just finished reading your writings about Honor. By the way, what is the difference between the word Respect and Honor in accordance to the spiritual sense of application. Thanks a lot .
Thanks Bernardina,
Respect and Honor can almost be interchangeable in a lot of cases. But I tend to think respect is for actions and honor is for a person. I don’t need to respect what someone does, says, or how they act, but I still need to honor them.
That’s an un-thought-through response, just one that came to my mind, so please forgive me if I come back tomorrow morning and correct myself…
… I can respect words or actions… I have to honor the person… Can I honor words or actions? hmmm… maybe this needs to be thought through some more…
RevTrev,
Thanks for the timely (in my life, anyway!) discussion subject. It hit me rather squarely between the eyes, as it is a subject that I struggle with a lot–especially lately. God calls us to love unconditionally, despite all circumstance and what’s happened in the past. That’s why there is so much emphasis in the Word on love–particularly because it’s difficult to do.
Thanks for the relevant discussion.
Thanks for your comments Karen. It’s great to hear when things are timely. I’ll be updating this blog daily with more information on how to honor even when there’s sin, a disagreement we fight through, unrepentant sin, and a few more thoughts on honor. Any questions you have will help me know how to make what I’m writing even better. It’s much appreciated.
Trevor