Is It Mother’s Day, Or The Lord’s Day?
Today is the Sunday many have set aside so they might focus on Mother’s Day. Interestingly enough, “Mother’s Day” cannot be found in the Bible. It is also interesting that the term “Lord’s Day” only occurs once, and this is when John was on Patmos to receive the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10). There are many passages that speak of the Lord, and there are many that reference “Mother”. The word mother is found 320 times within 292 verses in the entire Bible. However, the term “Lord”, in reference to Jesus Christ is found in the New Testament more than 600 times. Why is it we have to take a “Lord’s Day” to honor Mom?
The fifth of the ten commandments - Exodus 20:12 deals with the honor one is to have for parents. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. This was part of the decalogue, given specifically to Israel, directing how they were to serve and worship God. The fourth Commandment, coming before the fifth, surely has more importance. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Now, we know that the Lord’s Day is not the Sabbath day. We also know that we do not live under the Old Testament Law of God. It was always the intention of God to have a “new day”, under a “new covenant” wherein man should serve and worship Him. Jeremiah 31:31-32 is one of the many places this is prophesied. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: Along with this new covenant was a new day in which man is to worship God.
The Spirit had many prophets speak of this day. In Isaiah 2:2-3 we find a prophecy of this. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Yet another is found in Zechariah 14:8-9. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
While Jesus was on earth, He taught His disciples about that kingdom, the church, of which the prophets spoke. In Matthew 4:17 we are told just after John was imprisoned, Jesus began to preach. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Christ also had things to say about mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. In so doing, He also stated that one must put first things first and keep things in their proper priority. In Matthew 10:37-38 we read: He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. In Matthew 6:33 as Jesus spoke during the Sermon on the Mount, He told the Jews gathered there of that which is of most importance. He said: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Ephesians 6:2 repeats God’s Commandment regarding the honor to be directed toward parents. This is a part of God’s N.T. Law. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) We all should honor our parents as directed in the Word. Was it not “the Lord”, Christ, who died on the cross? Was it not the Lord who “gave Himself” for us? We are told in Titus 2:14 that is exactly what He did. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
No doubt mothers make many sacrifices for their offspring. For this they should be honored. But should not a “greater sacrifice” deserve more honor? The greatest sacrifice a mother can offer, is to “give herself” in service to God and the teaching of her children so they might know how to obey, to serve, to be pleasing to God. But Christ made the ultimate Sacrifice as His blood is the only Sacrifice that made it possible to take away sins. We are told that Christ came to do His Father’s Will. In so doing, He paid the price so that we might be saved. Then as Hebrews 10:12 shows, He went back to the Father. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
It is proper to “honor” Mom for all she does. (Romans 13:7) She deserves it! But’s let’s not fail to honor God, His Son and the Spirit first! A godly mother does not desire that she be honored more than God.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
