‘HONOUR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER.”
[Note: a pdf file of this post is available for download and printing. See link at bottom.]
The Fifth Commandment is unique because it includes a special promise as a reward, as seen in the full verse from the King James Version: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)
Another version of this Commandment, found in Deuteronomy, adds further detail: “Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Deuteronomy 5:16)
There are so many ways in which we might honor our earthly parents. We honor them by being obedient to them, respecting them, expressing our gratitude and appreciation for them, and doing our part to make the family circle a happy and harmonious one. We honor them by taking care of ourselves when grown, and not putting burdens on them needlessly. We honor them by making sure they are taken care of in their senior years, if they become unable to manage on their own. We do this with love and gratitude, not grudgingly. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul reminds children of the importance of the Fifth Commandment, when he writes in two of his letters:
“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” (Col. 3:20-21)
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:1-4)
It is noteworthy that Paul connects obedience of children with a warning to fathers not to provoke anger in their children. Parents should not expect respect and obedience if they do not treat their young ones with loving kindness. The Golden Rule goes both ways!
Below are some ideas for teaching the Fifth Commandment in Sunday School:
LITTLE CHILDREN:
For little children, first go over what the words in the Commandment mean (for help see this).
Ask what kind of family rules they have in their home. Discuss the good that comes with obedience, then talk about the consequences of disobedience.
Tell the children that if we try to obey all of the Ten Commandments from God, then we will be obeying the Fifth Commandment, since we will be honoring God when we follow His rules for His family. We also obey the Fifth Commandment when we follow the commands of Jesus, our “brother,” who came to show us what our heavenly Father is like and what is required of us as the followers of Christ.
Little kids are very keen on the word “promise.” For instance, you might hear, “But, you PROMISED me we would go to the zoo if I was good!” Show them that the promise mentioned in the Fifth Commandment of a long life. Discuss the power and presence of God and how it would be impossible for Him to break a promise. So this Commandment offers a true and reliable promise if we obey it. But what is our part of the deal? Perhaps make a list of things they promise to do the next week that would exercise their ability to obey their parents, or list one or two ways they could improve their obedience to one of the Ten Commandments, such as telling the truth or not taking things that do not belong to them.
OLDER CHILDREN:
There are a number of topics in the Bible that illustrate or expand upon the idea of honoring our parents. The following would be appropriate for in-depth discussions with older Sunday School classes.
Biblical Background
Until doing research on the Fifth Commandment, I was unaware that the commandment was originally intended as a warning for grown children not to neglect their elderly parents. I knew that family was an important part of Jewish life and that children were taught to obey and respect their parents, but the necessity for the Fifth Commandment was an eye-opener.
In some societies, in those days, the elderly were often sent out to the wilderness “to be eaten of beasts or to die of exposure,” if they became a burden to their families, as the Interpreter’s Bible and other commentaries tell us. We see, then, that this Commandment is not just exhorting little children to mind their parents, but for adults to value their elderly parents as worthy of care in their old age.
The Interpreter’s Bible, A Commentary in Twelve Volumes explains: “Family solidarity has always been one of the characteristics of Israel. It was so much a part of the social texture of life that it would seem that no special commandment was necessary to protect parents. To a child growing up in a Jewish home, the Fifth Commandment would be as superfluous as ‘Thou must breathe’ or ‘Thou must eat.’ Like the others in this code of laws, it is directed to the adult citizen who is burdened with the care of an aged parent, and is a warning against the heathen habit of abandoning the aged when they can no longer support themselves. The reward for such piety as is here commanded is a stable society in which health and long life can be enjoyed.” (IB, Vol. 1, pg 985)
In the early Hebrew society, minor children had little choice but to honor their parents. We read in Exodus and Leviticus that if children hit or cursed their parents, they would be put to death! In Proverbs 30:17 we read this warning: “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.” [Lovely image, eh? Which is probably why I don’t recall hearing it read before.]
A statement I do like is found in The Interpreter’s One Volume Commentary on the Bible in its commentary on the Fifth Commandment, is “In the broader sense discipline in the family, where the mature wisdom of parents overrules the impulse and prejudice of youth, is the basis of an ordered society.” (pg. 54)
If we think about this, we can see how we should have our own impulsive thoughts — no matter what our age — be subjugated or disciplined by wisdom. We should always honor wisdom.
Jesus and the Fifth Commandment
Jesus is the Way-shower. In his life, as recorded in the Gospels, we see how Jesus demonstrated obedience to the laws of God. We also see how he taught and lived a higher sense of the laws by permeating his actions with the motive of love. This brought a new sense of freedom. The original intent or spirit of the various laws of God, including the Ten Commandments, was often hidden under layers of human opinion and years of traditional forms of rituals. Jesus cut through the old interpretations and the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. His interpretations were radical. From Jesus we have examples and lessons to ponder today, on how to honor both our earthly parents, as well as our heavenly Father. We can explore how the moral and spiritual qualities of true motherhood and fatherhood can be “honored” in our own thoughts and actions, and how we can appreciate these qualities in others. The following stories of Jesus would be good starting points to discussions of the Fifth Commandment with our children or Sunday School classes:
JESUS VISITS JERUSALEM AT PASSOVER
In the second chapter of Luke, we find the only story from the childhood of Jesus. After reading the commentary of William Barclay which follows the story below, you will see how this episode illustrates perfectly how Jesus demonstrated for us the necessity to honor God by recognizing that he is our Father without dishonoring our human parents. The story goes:
“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they under-stood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:41-52)
In his book on the Gospel of Luke, part of the Daily Study Bible Series, William Barclay makes the following comments on this episode which are very enlightening [Note: Barclay uses a different Bible translation, so some key phrases will not match the KJV]:
“A Jewish boy became a man when he was twelve years of age. Then he became ‘a son of the law’ and had to take the obligations of the law upon him. So at twelve Jesus for the first time went to the Passover. We may well imagine how the holy city and the Temple and the sacred ritual fascinated him. . . . When his parents returned he lingered behind. It was not through carelessness that they did not miss him. Usually the women in a caravan started out much earlier than the men for they traveled more slowly. The men started later and traveled faster and the two sections would not meet until the evening encampment was reached. It was Jesus’ first Passover. No doubt Joseph thought he was with Mary, Mary thought that he was with Joseph and not till the evening camp did they miss him. . . . They returned to Jerusalem to search for him. For the Passover season it was the custom for the Sanhedrin to meet in public in the Temple court to discuss, in the presence of all who would listen, religious and theological questions. It was there they found Jesus. We must not think of it as a scene where a precocious boy was dominating a crowd of his seniors. ‘Hearing and asking questions’ is the regular Jewish phrase for a student learning from his teachers. Jesus was listening to the discussions and eagerly searching for knowledge like an avid student. . . . And now comes one of the key passages in the life of Jesus. ‘Your FATHER and I,’ said Mary, ‘have been looking for you anxiously.’ ‘Did you not know,’ said Jesus, ‘that I must be in MY FATHER’S house’? See how very gently but very definitely Jesus takes the name ‘father’ from Joseph and gives it to God. At some time Jesus must have discovered his own unique relationship to God . . . As the years went on he must have had thoughts; and then at this first Passover, with manhood dawning, there came in a sudden blaze of realization the consciousness that he was in a unique sense the Son of God. . . . Here we have the story of the day when Jesus discovered who he was. And mark this — the discovery did not make him proud. It did not make him look down on his humble parents, the gentle Mary and the hard-working Joseph. He went home and he was obedient to them. The fact that he was God’s Son made him the perfect son of his human parents. The real man of God does not despise earthly ties; just because he is God’s man he discharges human duties with supreme fidelity.” (WB, The Gospel of Luke, pages 29-30)
The last point in the story is an important one for young people to see. In Genesis, we read that man is God’s “image and likeness,” and so we are God’s “children.” This is our most important relationship to understand and cherish. However, that does not give license to disobedience and ingratitude toward our earthly parents, as we shall see in the example of Jesus.
THE WEDDING AT CANA:
The next story that includes Jesus and his mother is that of the Wedding at Cana. The part that is pertinent is what Jesus replies to Mary after she tells Jesus there is no more wine left. It appears she wants him to solve the problem. Most likely she has already become aware of his divine powers, and is urging him to “go public.” But Jesus appears to rebuke her sharply. Let’s read the story first:
“And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” (John 2:1-11)
It appears from this translation in the King James Version of the Bible, that Jesus spoke rather rudely to his mother — it doesn’t sound as if he “honored” her very well. What are we to make of this? Was Jesus disobeying the Fifth Commandment? Thank goodness for Bible scholars. Once again I turn to my current favorite, William Barclay, for his commentary on this passage:
“The Authorized Version translation of Jesus’ reply makes it sound very discourteous. It makes him say: ‘Woman, what have I to do with thee?’ That is indeed a translation of the words, but it does not in any way give the tone. . . . The phrase, ‘What have I to do with you?’ was a common conversational phrase. When it was uttered angrily and sharply it did indicate complete disagreement and reproach, but when it was spoken gently it indicated not so much reproach but misunderstanding. It means: ‘Don’t worry; you don’t quite understand what is going on; leave things to me, and I will settle them in my own way.’ Jesus was simply telling Mary to leave things to him, that he would have his own way of dealing with the situation. . . . The word ‘woman (gunai)’ is also misleading. It sounds to us very rough and abrupt. But it is the same word that Jesus used on the cross to address Mary as he left her to the care of John. In Homer, it is the title by which Odysseus addresses Penelope, his well-loved wife. It is the title by which Augustus, the Roman emperor, addressed Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen. So far from being a rough and discourteous way of address, it was a title of respect. We have no way of speaking in English which exactly renders it; but it is better to translate it lady, which gives at least the courtesy in it.” (WB, The Gospel of John, pages 114-115)
There are a number of insights to be found in this episode at Cana. Give thought to what must have gone on in the life of Jesus before his public ministry that would cause his mother to turn to Jesus to solve the problem of the lack of wine. How many “miracles” had Mary already witnessed? Had Jesus been timid about using this power in public? Is this why it appears Mary may have felt a need to push him into action? Is this a quality of true motherhood, that of “leading” children; or was there a false sense of motherhood, that of anxious ambition or pushiness? These could be questions to ask in Sunday School to get a discussion started on “honoring” motherhood.
It was Mary’s purity and spirituality which enabled her to first discern the Christ, and so perhaps it was natural for her to want others to share in this inspiration? That discernment and conception of our true spiritual nature should always be honored wherever found and shared.
JESUS HONORS TRUE KINSHIP:
We read the following episode in Matthew 12:46-50: “While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whoso-ever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
That story is also briefly related in Mark 3:31-35 and Luke 8:19-21. Taken out of context from the rest of Jesus’ teachings and life, it might appear from these verses that Jesus was being disrespectful to his mother, and, therefore, was not honoring her according to the Fifth Commandment. But we know from his other actions and statements that he loved Mary, and he urged others to fulfill their duties to their parents, except when there is a clear conflict with performing our duty to God. In the instance above, Jesus is showing us the spirit of true kinship — that when we share common interests, experience, goals, and obedience with others, we can rightly call them family. Note, he does not offer the term “father” to such kinsmen; that term was reserved only for God.
In a similar vein, we read later in Mark 10:28-31: “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
Again, would it be breaking the Fifth Commandment to walk away from our responsibilities of caring for our family, including, perhaps, a needy father or mother, for the sake of following Jesus and his “good news”? Why would Jesus say this, if it appears to be in disobedience to God’s law? In this story, what Peter wanted to know was whether or not he and the other disciples who had left their homes and jobs to follow Jesus, would receive any kind of reward for their sacrifice. Jesus is telling him that, yes, they would receive much more, albeit with persecutions. It is true that when God directs us into new paths, our family members may not be ready to come along with us, or are not able to walk at our speed. They may be vehemently opposed to our new religious beliefs. Therefore, a separation may be necessary — either mentally or physically. But Jesus is not telling us here to abandon our legal and moral duties. This is another example to show that while our legal and biological families may reject us for our religious beliefs, we have a family in Christ to turn to, and we will not lose anything needful, but gain “an hundredfold” now and in eternal life.
The Book of Luke also shows us Jesus reminding his followers that the Christ may cause divisions in families: “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” (Luke 12:51-53)
On the road to Jerusalem, Jesus said something similar to the above: “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25-26)
William Barclay comments on the latter episode: “We must not take his words with cold and unimaginative literalness. Eastern language is always as vivid as the human mind can make it. When Jesus tells us to hate our nearest and dearest, he does not mean that literally. He means that no love in life can compare with the love we must bear to him.” (WB, The Gospel of Luke, pg. 196)
It is also possible that Jesus is saying we must let go of a false, mortal sense of family before we can understand his spiritual teachings. That false sense is what is meant to be hated and rejected — not our brothers and sisters in Christ.
THE HYPOCRISY OF CORBAN:
Jesus had a strong rebuke to those Jews who tried to use their own laws to escape their responsibilities to care for their elderly parents. We read about this in Mark, when the Pharisees were criticizing the disciples for breaking one of their laws:
“Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:5-13)
Jesus is charging the Pharisees with hypocrisy. In their efforts to follow their traditions, they overlook the primary laws of God found in the Ten Commandments. The example Jesus gives is of the command to honor father and mother. He uses the term “Corban,” (also spelled Korban) which needs explanation. I turn again to William Barclay: “The word mean a gift. It was used to describe something which was specially dedicated to God. A thing which was Korban was as if it had already been laid upon the altar. That is to say, it was completely set apart from all ordinary purposes and usages and became the property of God. If a man wished to dedicate some of his money or his property to God, he declared it Korban, and thereafter it might never be used for any ordinary or secular purpose.”
Barclay continues: “It does seem that the idea of Korban was already capable of misuse. If that be the idea behind this, the passage speaks of a man declaring his property ‘Korban,’ sacred to God, and then when his father or mother in dire need comes to him for help, saying, ‘I am sorry that I cannot give you any help because nothing that I have is available for you because it is dedicated to God.’ The vow was made an excuse to avoid helping a parent in need. The vow which the scribal legalist insisted upon involved breaking one of the ten commandments which are the very law of God.” (WB, The Gospel of Mark, pg. 169-170)
He continues later: “Jesus was attacking a system which put rules and regulations before the claim of human need. The commandment of God was that the claim of human love should come first; the commandment of the scribes was that the claim of legal rules and regulations should come first. Jesus was quite sure that any regulation which prevented a man from giving help where help was needed was nothing less than a contradiction of the law of God.” (ibid pg. 171)
This section proves that Jesus upheld the Fifth Commandment — that nothing should prevent us from coming to the aid of our earthly parents in their times of need, which was the original meaning of the Fifth Commandment. We cannot resort to any excuse, legal or otherwise, to avoid our duty to our parents or to show them mercy.
JESUS AND MARY AT THE CROSS:
Let’s see how Jesus discharged his duty to his mother at the time of the crucifixion:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (John 19:25-27)
Jesus had an undeniably good excuse for not paying attention to others below him as he was suffering on the cross. Yet, in his infinite unselfishness, Jesus took note of his mother. He was the “eldest son,” and had responsibilities for her care. Notice that he did not entrust her to the care of his younger brothers. Why not? Let us look at William Barclay’s commentary on this event:
“In this passage there is something which is surely one of the loveliest things in all the gospel story. When Jesus saw his mother, he could not but think of the days ahead. He could not commit her to the care of his brothers, for they did not believe in him yet (John 7:5). And, after all, John had a double qualification for the service Jesus entrusted to him — he was Jesus’s cousin, being Salome’s son, and he was the disciple whom Jesus loved. So Jesus committed Mary to John’s care and John to Mary’s, so that they should comfort each other’s loneliness when he was gone.” (WB, The Gospel of John, Volume 2, pgs 256-257)
Here, Jesus not only honors his mother, Mary, by arranging her future care, but he also honors that true kinship he had with John, his beloved disciple, and bestows upon him the responsibility that might normally go to a brother. Jesus shows, by example, how to obey the Fifth Commandment, and at the same time honor those who are our spiritual kin.
JESUS AND HIS FATHER:
Jesus taught: “Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9) We have no record of what name he used with Joseph, but during the time recorded after his baptism, we know that God was the only one he referred to as “Father.” In fact, in Mark 14: 35-36, when he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, he used the term “Abba,” an affectionate term which might be likened to our “daddy.”
Think of this whenever you pray the Lord’s Prayer — what it really means to have God as your Father, your “Dad,” so to speak. Not in a mortal sense, obviously, but as the only Cause and Creator, who loves and cares for all eternally, and would never wish any harm, but has planned for His family great blessings and a harmonious existence filled with joy and progress. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
If this is true — that God is our Father, and therefore we are God’s children or offspring — how can we “honor” God? Jesus shows us by his life, and in statements such as:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
By these statements, we can see that Jesus wanted us to shine. We want to show off what God has created! We let our spiritual nature shine through our lives to bear witness to God’s perfection and supremacy.
Part of Jesus’ mission, then, was to show us how to honor God by demonstrating His nature in our present lives. Just as we would love to make our earthly parents “proud” of our accomplishments, we should want to please our Heavenly Father by being the child He created — the perfect, spiritual image and likeness of His Being (and in reality we have no choice but to be that image and likeness!). And, just as we hope our own children represent us well in society, all the while loving them no matter how long it takes for them to “reach their potential,” God knows all along that we are His perfect and complete “child” in spite of what we appear to be humanly, which explains His infinite patience and forgiveness.
To fully develop this theme, I recommend a study of the parable of the Prodigal Son. It is found in Luke 15:11-32. Analyze the story from the point-of-view of all three characters. There is so much to learn from this parable on many levels, but in using it to illustrate the theme of the Fifth Commandment, focus on the issue of relationships. For instance, if the Father symbolizes God, what is Jesus telling us about God’s nature and His love for His children, even when they have “left” His “house”? Where is home? Why was the Elder Son in the field with the servants, rather than at home taking advantage of his “sonship.” The Prodigal was willing to be a “servant” for his father. Should we aim to be servants or sons?
TEACHING THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT TO CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUPILS:
For those parents or Sunday School teachers interested in lessons on the Fifth Commandment based upon the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and author of the Christian Science textbook Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures the following links to lessons in Question and Answer format are from my book First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume One: the Ten Commandments:
The Fifth Commandment – For Young Children
What does “honour” mean?
Is God asking us to honor Him, our divine Father-Mother, or our earthly parents?
What are some of the ways we can honor our Father-Mother God?
What about children who are being raised by foster, adoptive, or step-parents, or their own parents do not behave as normal parents should?
What does Christian Science mean when it teaches that God is our real Father-Mother?
Do we have to honor and obey our parents even after we have grown up and left home?What part does “gratitude” play in honoring our parents?
Why is being obedient to our parents so important? Can’t we just be obedient to what God tells us to do?
Copyright 2020 Vicki Jones Cole
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Next: Teaching Children the Sixth Commandment
Previous: Teaching Children the Fourth Commandment
See also:
Teaching Children the Ten Commandments
The Fifth Commandment – a Christian Science Perspective
About this blog and a Welcome
Questions and Answers on Christian Science
First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume One: The Ten Commandments
First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Two: The Beatitudes
First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume Three: The Lord’s Prayer
UPDATE: The complete book of First Lessons in Christian Science, Volume One: The Ten Commandments in its original format is now available for purchase at The Bookmark online. Visit my Author’s Page at: https://thebookmark.com/vicki-jones-cole-2.
Some of the essays useful for teaching children at home or in Sunday School:
Introducing Children to the Concept of God
Teaching Children the Lord’s Prayer, Part 1 (Intro and Background)
Teaching Children about the Golden Rule
Teaching Children about Angels
Teaching Children the 23rd Psalm
Teaching the Beatitudes to Children
What Mary Baker Eddy Writes about Teaching Children
For a transcript of a public lecture on Christian Science suitable for newcomers
see God’s Man or Adam’s Man.
Download a pdf of the above blog post:
First Lessons in Christian Science 