"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

The Apostle Paul cited the fifth commandment in Ephesians 6:1-4.

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." And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4 (underlining added for emphasis)

Paul pointed out that the fifth commandment is “the first commandment with [a] promise” attached. About the attached promise:

Some have argued that there is a promise attached to the second commandment, which comes before the fifth commandment. According to this thought, the commandment not to have any idols has an attached promise of mercy to a thousand generations (v.6). There are several weak explanations, which I will not include here for the sake of time and space. Instead, I will give the explanation that seems best. Quoting from the Baker NT Commentary (Hendriksen & Kistemaker):

The word generally translated first may indicate rank as well as numerical sequence. Thus, when a scribe asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the first of all?” he did not mean, “Which commandment is mentioned first?” but “Which is first in importance?” The original does not read “the first commandment”; it reads, “a commandment first,” that is, “commandment of foremost significance,” not necessarily the most important of all.

In other words, this commandment is of “foremost significance” because those who do not honor their earthly father and mother are not likely to honor their heavenly Father.

And what is the promise? Next time…