Leviticus 19:3 - Exposition

Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father. The words fear and reverence are in this connection interchangeable. So Ephesians 5:33 , "Let the wife see that she reverence her husband," where the word "reverence" would be more exactly translated by "fear." St. Paul points out that the importance of the fifth commandment is indicated in the Decalogue by its being" the first commandment with promise," that is, with a promise attached to it ( Ephesians 6:2 ). The family life is built upon reverence to parents, and on the family is built society. Obedience to parents is a duty flowing out of one of the first two laws instituted by God—the law of marriage ( Genesis 2:24 ). The second law instituted at the same time was that of the sabbath ( Genesis 2:3 ), and in the verse before us observance of the sabbatical law is likewise inculcated, in the words that immediately follow— ye shall keep my sabbaths.