Honoring Mothers

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you (Exodus 20:12).

This is the fifth of the Ten Commandments. Not suggestions—commandments. God takes honoring mothers and fathers seriously.

There is a war against motherhood in our world. You will not find happily married couples or family values featured on television; you will see dysfunctional families, or redefinitions of the family. Too often, parents are depicted as unworthy and unintelligent.

But God made one man, one woman, told them to be fruitful and have children, and said, “It is good.” (Read Genesis 1:26-31.)

God blesses motherhood.

God only gave us ten commandments—and He used one of them to tell us to honor our fathers and mothers. No matter what age you are, God commands you to show honor to your parents.

If you have not been obedient in honoring your mother, thoughtfully celebrating Mother’s Day with her is an excellent opportunity to begin—but don’t stop at “Happy Mother’s Day.”

A Godly Mother’s Love and Selflessness

A godly woman leaves a trail of unconditional love in the lives of her loved ones. Consider the magnitude of her testimony, when a mother not only loves her children, but loves them with the love of God!

Viewing Children as a Blessing

A godly woman recognizes her God-given instinct to be a mother. She knows that there is no greater earthly blessing than children.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate (Psalm 127:3-5).

Praying for Her Children

Pastor Adrian Rogers says, “The time to begin to raise godly children is before they’re born.” Lord willing, the children of Christian parents will go on to bless the world and glorify God as well. Understanding this, a godly woman prays for her children before they are ever conceived. And she continues to give them her unwavering support through prayer for the rest of her life.

Sacrificing Herself for Her Children

A mother’s heart is full of concern for her family. “She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants….She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31:15,27)

She sacrifices her own comforts and leisure in order to cultivate a happy, healthy home where the joy of the Gospel is taught.

God blesses her for it, and commands us to, as well!

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all” …Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates (Proverbs 31:28-29,31).

Practical Ways to Honor Your Mother

Show respect. “Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father” (Leviticus 19:3a). This has a positive—do show respect—and an implied negative—do not show disrespect.

Never speak or behave disrespectfully to your parents, at any age. In the Old Testament, this was a capital crime. (See Leviticus 20:9; Proverbs 20:20.)

You may say, “My parents are not worthy of respect.” Remember that only perfect children can demand perfect parents. Adolescence and middle age are both difficult stages.

But beyond not showing disrespect, how can you actively show your mother respect?

Express your gratitude. Whoever your mother is, and whatever she has done, she has done much for you. Thank her.

Listen to her counsel. Even when you are no longer under your parents’ roof, still listen to your parents’ counsel. Your parents are wise in ways that you are not yet. You will be amazed at how much your mother knows.

Live a godly, noble life. You are an extension of your father and your mother. Do you know what gives your parents great joy? To see their children living rightly. That brings honor to them.

Show love to her. Call your mama. Write her that letter—be assured, she will read it over and over. Pay that visit. Give that thoughtful gift. Get up and do something to help her. Put your love into shoe leather! And do it as quickly as you can. People try to make up for lost love at a funeral—lost respect, lost honor, lost opportunities—but dead noses smell no roses. Do it, and do it now.

Pray for her, regularly. Do not only pray for her soul, either—pray for her safety, for her joy, for her provision, for her worries, for her arthritis. Your mother prayed for you. Now return that love, and you go to the throne of God on her behalf.

Honoring Mothers Blesses Us All

Not only will honoring your mother bless her, but God also promises it will bring blessing to you.

The fifth commandment, to honor your mother and father, is the first commandment that God gave with a promise attached.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

A godly woman is the heart of the home, and God takes honoring mothers seriously.

List of Scriptures Referenced in This Article

Exodus 20:12; Genesis 1:26-31; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 20:20, 31:15,27-29,31; Leviticus 19:3, 20:9; Ephesians 6:1-3

More Bible Verses for Mother’s Day

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck (Proverbs 1:8-9).

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life (Proverbs 31:10-12).

Adrian Rogers was a gifted communicator known for making deep biblical truths practical for everyday life. As founder of Love Worth Finding, he shared the Gospel with passion, clarity, and integrity. A respected preacher, teacher, and leader, he was also a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Dr. Rogers often said his greatest joy came from his relationship with Jesus, his family, and his church.

©2025 Love Worth Finding Ministries, Inc. Used by permission of the Rogers Family Trust. Republishing requires approval.

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