Memorial OPC Adult Sunday School - Westminster Shorter Catechism - 2011-2012
"Honor father and your mother" as they Advance in years.
I. The 5th commandment is not just for little children but for Big children too.
A. Consider you're own Attitude toward the elderly (Lev. 19.32; Prov. 16.31; 20.29).
B. Consider what the godly and elderly saints should Expect (Prov. 17.6).
C. Consider the Long Lasting intention of godly parental instruction (Prov. 1:8; 6.20; 23.22).
D. Consider the Potential for good and evil as both you and your parents age (Prov. 10.1; 15.20).
E. Consider the Warnings that God gives to grown children (Prov. 17.21, 25; 19.13, 26; 20.20; 28.24; 30.11, 17)
F. Consider the Blessing you can be by God's grace (Prov. 23.24-25).
II. Christ's and the 5th commandment in Matthew 15:1-11
A. A complaint is brought to Jesus that His disciples do not wash their hands according to the tradition of the elders.
B. Jesus turns the tables by addressing the lack of observing the 5th commandment when it comes to caring for aging parents. The tradition of the elders allowed for grown children to pronounce their property "corban," that is, to declare their property to be dedicated unto God. This conveniently allowed them to be "unable" to use their property to materially support aged parents. The irony was that this "dedicated property" did not actually need to be offered to God but could be retained for personal use.
C. Jesus equates this to cursing father and mother and reminds His hearers that this is an offense worthy of the death penalty according to Exodus 21.17.
D. Jesus then extends this dishonoring of parents (defined by failing to care for your parents in their old age) to in actuality to be a dishonoring of God and a concrete indicator of gross hypocrisy.
III. The 5th commandment, the church, and the home and 1 Timothy 5:1-8.
A. The primary care for aging parents falls on the shoulders of children.
B. If there are no children, the care for aging saints falls on the shoulders of the Church.
C. 1 Timothy 5:8 states it very clearly: "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Discussion Questions:
1. Last week we talked about our culture's general attitude towards the elderly. Who remembers some of the things that were said?
2. Consider some of the following ideas and commodities from a biblical perspective:
a. The value of living independently for as long as possible
b. The advent of 55+ communities
c. The usefulness of senior citizen housing where there are amenities uniquely suited to elderly needs and interests
d. The advent of "assisted care" facilities
e. The role of nursing homes
f. The near disappearance of dying at home
3. What might you need to be careful about as you struggle with the proper role of the above resources when it comes to caring for aging parents?
4. What might seem to be the most "natural" (though not necessarily the easiest) way of caring for aging parents?
5. Given our mobile society, what mutual responsibilities might be required of both children and their parents when it comes to "the need to be cared for" and "the responsibility to care"?
6. If these things are by definition "not easy," how should this drive you more and more to Christ?