Exodus 20 verse 12 says, honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. We previously discussed the reality that Jesus showed honor and respect to his adoptive earthly father, Joseph. And we ended by pointing out that the greatest way to honor our earthly father is to do as Jesus did. He honored his heavenly father in every area of his life. Jesus is one with the Father in heaven, as he said in John 10 30, when he was responding to questions from the Jews, and he said, I and my Father are one. He didn't say they're the same. Jesus isn't God the Father, but he is one with the Father. And the whole purpose of the life of Jesus was to honor his father in heaven. Even when dealing with Jews who accused him of being possessed by the devil in John 8, 49, it says, Jesus answered, I have not a devil, but I honor my father and ye do dishonor me. You see, the first four commandments are all about Jesus because they're about God. And so the first four pertain to our relationship with our triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. But the fifth commandment is the first commandment dealing with our treatment of our fellow human beings. And the first two human beings in our daily lives are the two that God used to produce us, mom and dad, or as I called them for years, mommy and daddy. And you notice that this is the first commandment that comes with a promise. Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Now, that clearly shows that these commandments are specific to the children of Israel and the land covenant God made with Abraham and his seed back in Genesis 12, 15, and 17. So listen closely again. Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. But don't think for a minute that this isn't a universal commandment regarding parents and children. Paul clears that question up in Ephesians 6, verses 2 and 3, where the church is told, Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. So the church is not national Israel. The church is not promised the land of Israel. But Christians are still expected to follow the example of Jesus and the principle of his commandment here in this fifth commandment of Mosaic law and honor our mother and father. So Jesus did exactly that. There's no indication in the Bible that Jesus was anything other than an obedient, loving, respectful son to his earthly father, Joseph, and in so doing, he was also honoring his heavenly father. And that's the example we are to follow, an example that a clear minority of Americans take seriously. And that explains the high suicide rate, the high overdose death rate, high murder rates among teenagers and young adults, not to mention all the abortions that are a result of teenage rebellion. And not everyone, but most of the deaths I just mentioned were preventable. and they're a direct result from or clearly connected to the disrespect and dishonor of both earthly parents and of our Heavenly Father. Jesus never did such a thing with Joseph and Mary. He honored his heavenly father, who is our own God and father also, of course, and he did so by honoring his adoptive father, Joseph, and his mother, Mary. Now, it's kind of exciting to think about this and interesting to think about the fact we'll see Joseph in heaven. He was honored by Jesus in his earthly life, but in heaven, Joseph will be one of us. Joseph was a sinner who needed salvation, and in heaven, he'll be one of the redeemed sinners. Different dispensation, same Savior. And Joseph will sing his praise and adoration to the one that, as a human, he raised, but who, as God, died in human form, was buried, and then was raised from the dead. glorified as our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us live by the faithful example of Jesus, who honored His earthly Father. And in so doing, we will be honoring our Heavenly Father. World without end. Amen.