Note 4 at Eph. 6:2: Children are to honor their parents even after they become adults, but the command to obey is temporary (Gal. 4:1-2). Honor naturally leads to obedience if nothing is asked contrary to God's laws, but honor and obedience are not synonymous.

The scriptures teach that when a child marries he is to leave his father and mother and cleave unto his mate (Gen. 2:24). Parental dominance which extends into marriage has been the source of many divorces and much marital strife. Yet a child is to honor his parents for all their life.

The word "honor" means "to esteem, respect" (New Am. Her. Dict.). The Greek word TIMAEO from which "honor" was translated means "to prize, i.e. to fix a valuation upon" (Strong). There are many applications of children honoring their parents. Certainly, one of the violations of this today is children esteeming and respecting the opinions of their peers above those of their parents. The idea that parents are out of date and therefore out of touch is devaluation of parents. Children should value the experience and wisdom of their parents more than their peers.

Note 5 at Eph. 6:2: Paul quotes from Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16 (see O.T. Scriptures cited in v. 2) and says this is the first commandment with promise. This is reference to the fact that this command about honoring parents was the first one of the Ten Commandments which gave a promise of blessing to those who obey it. The promised blessing is long life and things going well (v. 3).