Living Indictment (Mk. 6:1-6)

Read Mark 6:1-6.

1. Their information about Jesus was liberating.  They recognized Jesus had wisdom and also had power to do miracles.  With that information, revival could've broken out!

2. Their identity of Jesus was limiting.  They allowed Jesus' identity to be forged by vocation and family.  There was no consideration beyond the natural.  There was no confession, "He is the Son of God."  The question isn't "What do you know about Jesus?" Rather, the question is "Whom do you believe Jesus to be?" Have you made Jesus into your own image?

3. Their indictment by Jesus was living.  He said they had no honor for Him and no belief in Him.  Worship and witness were both squelched.  These two battlefields remain active today.

Dishonor And Unbelief (Mk. 6:6)

Read Mark 6:6.

In context, "unbelief" is described as allowing what you do know about Jesus to hinder you from learning what you don't know about Him.  Jesus linked dishonor and unbelief.

Honor Your Mother (Ex. 20:12) (Part 4)

3. TESTIMONY: YOU SHOULD HONOR YOUR MOTHER BECAUSE YOU LIVE IN A CULTURE OF DISHONOR.

The concept of honor is a virtue that is vanishing quickly in society. If a person will not honor mother – I mean, come on, how difficult is it to do that? – how will he or she honor other authority figures? 

Just so I'm clear, young people, that wonderful nurturer in your life deserves your respect. Show some! She is not “the old hag”, “the old bag” or “that witch.” This means control both your tongue and your thoughts. You're not off the hook just because you didn't say something rude or disrespectful. Were you thinking it? Was it in your heart? (Mt. 12:34b)

The Bible says that “in the last days, difficult times will come.” (2 Tim. 3:1). Two details about these “difficult times” involve the child-parent relationship. First, Paul told Timothy that people would be “disobedient to parents” (2 Tim. 3:2). Second, Paul told Timothy that people would be “unloving” (2 Tim. 3:3). The Amplified Bible reads “without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman) . . .” Would you agree that it is impossible to honor your mother if you don't show love?

On Mother's Day and every day, enjoy defying culture.  Do more than be nice to mom.  Honor her.

The Roots of Dishonor (1 Pet. 2:17a)

To get the most out of this post, read these verses that speak about honor: Rom. 12:10; 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:17; 1 Cor. 12:23-24; Mt. 13:57; 15:4; 1 Tim 5:3, 17.


In 1 Peter 2:17 we are told to "Honor all men."  The problem is that we live in such a culture of dishonor.  Phrases such as "my old man" or "that witch" don't reflect well on us.  We never want that culture of dishonor creeping into the church!  Where does such dishonor come from?  Here are eight roots of dishonor.

• Ignorance.  Maybe you grew up in an environment where you didn't experience honor. Perhaps you never saw it displayed.  It could be challenging to give honor when you don't know what it looks like.    
• Tradition.  "We don't like to single anyone out.  That's just not how we've done things here."  Then your culture is wrong!  (I wouldn't be surprised to hear that your life or organization is laden with conflict, instability or discontent.)
• Emotion.  You don't feel like doing what you know you should do.  What about the command to honor?  Commands are to be obeyed, not felt.  Emotions can distort truth and delay responsibility.
• Hurt / Offence.  A hurt or offended person can't sincerely honor.  He can pretend, so that he doesn't stand out while everyone else rejoices, but he continues internally to cultivate his hurt, offence or disappointment.  Unless the offence is removed, honoring the offender is unlikely.
• Envy / Jealousy.  This person says, "I don't get such an honor or privilege, so why should you?"  Please stop being so selfish!
• Spite / Anger.  "There's no way I'm letting this happen."  A stick-in-the-mud won 't delight in anyone's being special.  Unless he releases his anger, an angry person can only participate insincerely.  Right words are spoken from a wrong heart -- verbal darts thrown violently into the honoree's back.  Being right should be more important than being reconciled.
• Rebellion.  The rebel knows the biblical command to honor.  He just won't do anything about it.  No way, no how.  The rebel needs to be reminded of 1 Sam. 15:22-23.
• Trying to play God.  This is the person who waits until he thinks the potential honoree is considered worthy enough of honor.  You can honor the position or title even if you won't honor the individual.  Were the President of the United States to visit your house, you would address him as "Mr. President" even if everyone knew you disagreed with some of his policies.  Do your spiritual authorities get the same courtesy? 

Honor is about submission and obedience and manifests a teachable, compliant spirit.  Honor is about recognizing and responding to authority.  It is inconsistent to believe you can honor God and not honor His appointed authorities.  Don't confuse honor with agreement.  You can rightly honor someone while sincerely disagreeing.