The Law of Biblical Honor

The Bible has much to say about honor in the Old and New Testament. “The word honor in Hebrew is Kabodand literally means heavy or weighty.” (Sam Hamstra, Jr.) In other words, the weight of respect, reverence, attention, and obedience reveals the honor shown.

The law of honor taught in the scripture is quite different than the world’s honor system. The world’s view is to seek notoriety, fame, fortune, awards, power, clout and so on. However, looking at the scriptures there are at least two major problems with the world’s way: it is temporary and the “one who honors the world and the things of it makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Romans 1:21 Paul writes, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” However, the outcome of biblical honor is wonderful. It is eternal because our focus and commitment is on the one that deserves all honor and not on ourselves.

The Biblical law of honor implores us to esteem God as the weightiest matter in our lives. Do our lives reflect honor to our Creator, Savior and King? Do others see our honor to God through our behavior, character, actions, and speech? We must be intentional in our honor to the Almighty God. A sad passage is shared in Malachi 1:6 where God said to the priest of the temple, “where is my honor?” Why did God say this? These priests were going through the motions of their duties with the least they could possibly to do with sub-standard ritual rather than full-blown reverence and honor. Sadly, with these priests, honor was no weighty matter to them and God responded accordingly.

A perfect God is due all honor. We are commanded to honor our earthly mother and father that are imperfect, how much more are we to honor the Almighty Father that is perfect in all of His ways. There is a beautiful verse in Revelation 4:11. The scene takes place in Heaven with the heavenly host saying, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.” Since our journey on earth is our rehearsal debut, may we strive to not only recite these words but maximize the opportunity to honor our God with all that is within us.

Pastor Ruth Kaunley