MOTHERS

Reading: Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Text: 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Intro: There is no natural tie as strong as that of a mother to her child. On this day, as the whole nation pauses to honor mothers, let us honor them not only as individuals, but the whole institution of Motherhood!

I A mother has great influence on her children:
1. To good
II Tim. 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

2. OR To evil
II Chr 22:3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.

B. Her duty to her children,
To Teach:
I Tim 5:14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Pro 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Pro 6:20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

C. Her duty doesn’t end with simply teaching her child what NOT to do, but should also include instructions that will lead them to salvation and active service to God.
Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

D. Letting a child choose for himself is both foolish and dangerous.
Psa 14:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

II Duties toward Mothers
A. God instituted the family unit and repeatedly honors mothers
Isa 66:13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

I Tim 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

B. Even Jesus, (God in the flesh) recognized his duty to his earthly mother
Jno 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Mat 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord.

C. The child’s duty
1. Obedience
Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

2 Supply physical needs.
Mat 7: 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11 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.
12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother.

3. Follow righteousness and wisdom
Pro 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

Can your parents trust you to make right choices? Or would you break their hearts?
Pro 15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

D. The father’s duty to the mother!
1. Love her as his own body.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

III Our spiritual birth is through the covenant of grace
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Jno. 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

A. Here, our duties parallel those toward our fleshly mothers.
Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

I Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

B. Here is a mother that will not fail us!
Isa 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Psa 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.