“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)
God has given us a two-pronged command: to love Him and to love our fellow humans. The first four commandments deal with our relationship to God: the last six with people around us. The fifth commandment focuses on interpersonal relationships in society, beginning with the family. To honour our parents means that children accept the authority of their parents, and care for their parents when they are older. Both fathers and mothers are treated equally—this is noteworthy for a society in which men dominated. The commandment also refers to those in authority: teachers, and those who govern.
God wants children to love their parents and to obey them out of love. Disobedience hurts love. This also applies to our relationship with God.
Encourage and support your parents in their senior years. Jesus says that that is God’s plan (Matthew 15:4-6). It isn’t always easy, and parents aren’t perfect. They make mistakes too. And yet, look to Christ who also found it difficult to obey His Father, but stayed the course because He loves us. God promised the Israelites that they would live in the land of Canaan. But that isn’t their destination. That is the heavenly Canaan where everyone who loves and obeys the Lord enters. Believe the good news, believe in Jesus Christ, follow Him to enter His Kingdom.