Who Are We To Honor?
Children are required to honor their parents (Ex 20:12) with minor children being also required to obey their parents as an aspect of honoring them (Lk 2:51, IVPBBC note). In Mt 15:4, the word for honoring our parents means to respect them and includes the idea of taking care of them (Mt 15:4, TNT note). For those with whom we have closer bonds of love, like our wife, our delight to honor her will transform mere respect into cherishing, comforting, and protective behavior toward her – into cherishing her like we would an extremely valuable diamond (1 Pet 3:7, BSB note).
Who, then, is to be honored? Each and every person (1 Pet 2:17, GW). We are to be more concerned with showing honor to others than receiving honor for ourself (Rom 12:10, PEB). Nor are we to grudgingly show them the respect, reverence, and, if appropriate, the obedience and provision to which they are due. Rather, we are to delight in showing them honor (Rom 12:10, LB). This can only be done when we love them.
Each person must be honored because they are created in God’s image and He loves them. Honor for their position is also appropriate (1 Tim 5:17) as is extra honor for their spiritual maturity, skill, and character. We honor what we value – and we should value what the Lord values.
Comforting others is costly but worth it.