Ephesians 6:2

“Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.”

The ‘child’ is to always honor the parent, but obeying ends when the child is launched.  What was an ‘honoring obedience’ is now designed to be an ‘honoring relationship’. 

Solomon puts it this way in Proverbs 23:22; “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”

*Note that listening does not necessarily mean obeying, but listening does equate to honoring. An adult child who does not respectfully listen is similar to one who ‘despises’.  

To honor is to regard with great respect. This is the mandate for the adult child.