“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
– Matt 22:37-40
To love your neighbor as yourself is to honor all men. Honoring all men is also one way we honor God. When you honor people, you also honor God; however, as people who love God above all else, we should be able to tell the difference between honor and respect.
For instance, when the king asked the three Hebrew men to bow, these men said, “We are not careful to answer you in this matter.”
“There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
– Daniel 3:12
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
– Daniel 3:16-18
They said something like this: “We honor you, but on this matter, we won’t obey you,” this is because they were asked to disregard God, to place man above God; this is where we draw the line. The 3 Hebrew men's response was also something like this: “Oh king, we honor you, but to bow to this image means we are placing it above God and placing you above God, we can not honor you above God, and so, in this regard, you don’t have our respect.” They honored the King but did not respect his commandment because it placed God below man. This is what it means to know the difference between Honour and Respect. When a matter seems to place God below man, you should not have respect for such.
Another example of this can be found in Galatians 2
“But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:”
– Galatians 2:6
This verse draws our attention to the fact that there were reputable men present in the meeting, but at the same time, not a single man there was greater than the word of God.
“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”
– Galatians 2:9
Verse nine shows the caliber of people present in the meeting: Apostles who walked with Jesus while he was alive, Paul making us understand that God does not value any man more than his word. “God accepteth no man’s person” verse 6. Why did Paul make this known to us? Why did he have to lay this foundation for us? Let’s see what happens further in the chapter.
“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”
– Galatians 2:11-14
Here, we see Paul talking to Peter. However, he did so with an understanding and wanted us to have the same understanding, which is that the word of God is above any man, no matter the status or reputation. With that said, I won’t respect what you did here because it makes God’s word look small. I respect and honor you, but on this matter, I will take God’s word over you.
Paul had a reputation among the Gentiles and Peter among the Jews. Paul needed both the Jews and the Gentiles to see the Gospel through the same lens: that God is no respecter of persons. This was not to shame Peter but to make him realize that, as an example to others, you, Peter, should not make yourself greater than God’s word.
This was Paul honoring God and honoring Peter but not respecting Peter’s actions. The effect of Peter’s actions was not promoting unity but disunity. This is how we as believers should behave: don’t have respect for any man above God’s word. We should challenge our faith leaders and friends to not make themselves of reputation by placing themselves above God. These folks may not even be aware of the effect of their actions, but bring it to their attention so that the word of the Lord will be glorified.
We should be able to distinguish between honor and respect. I honor you, but on this matter, because it makes God below man, I don’t respect it. The folks who don’t understand this difference are easily tossed to and fro and, by their actions, say that they don’t love God with all their heart, because they make mundane things more weightier than God, not loving God with all your heart, making man or material things above God. This is how idolatry and rebellion come into play.
Let’s look at some scriptures that speak about honor.
“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”
– 1 Peter 2:12-15
“Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”
– 1 Peter 2:23
Summary and Conclusion
Respect:
Deuteronomy 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
Proverbs 24:23
These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
The Standard for making Judgment is God's Word and in doing so you Must not have respect for anyone even though you honour them.
Regarding Honour:
1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Honor is for all men, irrespective of your opinion about them. Honor all.
Respect follows a standard God's word above all.
Example
Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
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