Proverbs 30:11 Commentary and Bible Study

In this book of figures and parables, the word generation is taken in a very loose sense. Every generation descended from Adam is the same, and all have this fault, for what Solomon is saying is that these are essential characteristics of all human beings who are away from God. One very ugly part of our makeup as sinners is our capacity to show cruelty to those we ought to love the most. Instead of respecting and honouring our parents we can neglect them, take them for granted, and show complete lack of gratitude to them for their enormous sacrifice at the beginning of our lives. In the fifth commandment God commands us to honour them. The word honour is broad enough to allow for the changing expression of our love towards them as we grow older. We owe them our care and practical help until the last day of our lives. We defend their reputation and speak up for them when they are in danger of being discredited. We hide their failings from public view and draw attention to their virtues. To curse a father is to betray them, to turn on our own protector and for many years our sole provider. Our parents are given to us on earth in part as a proxy for God, and in early life we are totally dependant on them. It is a part of God’s wisdom that we come into the world as helpless babes and need such close attention and patient care. He gives to parents the concomitant instincts to nurture their little ones. How much hurt is caused by a child who a father loves and expects to return his love but who in a most unnatural way turns on his parent, showing such selfishness, heartlessness, and insensitivity? How much pain a worthy, gentle, and kind mother feels, when her child refuses to bless her, to do her good, to even begin to repay the debt of love that has been shown? Elderly parents are treated callously. This is also part of our makeup as fallen men and women.This commandment of course goes far beyond parents and applies to all God given authority. Respect and honour should be show in an appropriate way to schoolteachers, employers, and government officials, but this lesson begins with parents and is most strongly owed to them.