The Bible has a lot to say about respect and how we should treat others. Showing respect for God, for ourselves, and for our fellow human beings is a core teaching throughout Scripture. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible verses and passages about respect:
Respect for God
The Bible is clear that we are to have utmost respect for God. He is our Creator, Savior, and Lord. We owe our very existence to Him.
“You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3 ESV)
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6 ESV)
“And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” (Luke 4:8 ESV)
Showing respect means worshipping God alone, honoring His name, submitting to His authority, trusting in His goodness, obeying His commands, and bringing glory to Him with our lives.
Respect for Ourselves
The Bible teaches that human beings are created in the image of God and have inherent value and dignity. As such, we should respect ourselves as God’s treasured possession.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27 ESV)
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:13-14 ESV)
Valuing ourselves as God’s creation means taking care of our bodies, developing our gifts and talents, pursuing noble goals, resisting sinful desires, and embracing our identity in Christ.
Respect for Others
The most frequently mentioned type of respect in Scripture involves how we treat fellow human beings. We are called to honor all people and relate to them with gentleness, patience, grace and love.
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 ESV)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3 ESV)
“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:17 ESV)
We demonstrate respect for others by being courteous in speech, extending hospitality, showing empathy, honoring authority, and considering others as more important than ourselves.
Respect for Parents
Parents have a special claim to honor and respect from their children. The Bible instructs children to obey their parents in the Lord.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12 ESV)
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1 ESV)
Giving respect to parents means obeying them, valuing their wisdom, caring for them as they age, and speaking respectfully of them to others.
Respect for Authority
The Bible calls on citizens to respect those in positions of authority, even if we disagree with them. Of course respecting authority has limits, and Christians are expected to disobey commands that go against God’s Word.
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work…” (Titus 3:1 ESV)
“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Romans 13:7 ESV)
We demonstrate respect for authority figures by being law-abiding citizens, praying for our leaders, honoring them, and speaking well of them.
Respect in Marriage
The Bible calls for mutual respect between husbands and wives. They are to serve one another humbly and selflessly.
“However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33 ESV)
“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7 ESV)
Spouses can show respect by listening attentively, valuing each other’s input, being thoughtful of each other’s needs, speaking courteously, and expressing appreciation.
Respect for Elders
The Bible instructs believers to honor the elderly for their wisdom and experience. We are to treat older people with care, deference and dignity.
“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:32 ESV)
“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers…” (1 Timothy 5:1 ESV)
We can demonstrate respect for the elderly by listening patiently, visiting regularly, assisting them in need, seeking their counsel, and valuing their life experiences.
Respect for Enemies
One of the most counter-cultural calls in Scripture is to show respect even to our enemies. Through Christlike love, we can overcome evil with good.
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44 ESV)
“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9 ESV)
We can show respect to enemies by forgiving them, doing good to them, praying for them, and striving for reconciliation when possible.
Respect for Believers
Fellow Christians are also deserving of honor and regard. We are to relate to them with grace, acceptance and love as members of God’s family.
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10 ESV)
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)
We demonstrate respect for fellow believers by encouraging them, bearing with them, serving them, praying for them, and considering them as better than ourselves.
Respect for Human Life
All human life is precious to God. This includes the unborn, the poor, the disabled, the aged and the disadvantaged. We should treat all people with value, dignity and respect.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13 ESV)
“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.” (Proverbs 31:8 ESV)
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)
We demonstrate respect for human life by defending the helpless, serving the needy, welcoming strangers, and proclaiming the value of all people as made in God’s image.
Respect for All Creation
The Bible calls us to respect all God has created. We are to be wise stewards caring for the earth and all living things.
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15 ESV)
“You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills; they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.” (Psalm 104:10-12 ESV)
We can show respect for God’s creation by conserving resources, protecting ecosystems, proper waste disposal, caring for animals humanely, and enjoying nature as God’s gift.
Benefits of Showing Respect
The Bible connects respect with many benefits for individuals, relationships and society as a whole. Some of these include:
- Promotion and blessing from God: “Oh, that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea…” (Isaiah 48:18 ESV)
- Healthy family relationships: “Honor your father and mother.” (This is the first commandment with a promise) “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (Ephesians 6:2-3 ESV)
- Noble character and reputation: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1 ESV)
- Fruitful friendships: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 ESV)
- Effective leadership and authority: “He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” (2 Samuel 23:3 ESV)
- Peaceful community: “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 ESV)
Lack of Respect is Sinful
While the Bible urges us to show honor to all people, it strongly warns against showing disrespect. Pride, injustice, irreverence, contempt, and insults toward others are sinful.
“Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.” (1 Timothy 6:1 ESV)
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be…disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3:1-4 ESV)
The Bible makes clear that those who show disrespect and contempt for others will face negative consequences and the judgment of God.
Jesus as the Ultimate Model
While the Bible gives us many commands and principles about respect, Jesus himself perfectly models what it looks like lived out. He always honored God the Father. He treated people with love, dignity, compassion, patience, and wisdom. Even when reviled and persecuted, He responded with grace. Jesus showed ultimate respect by willingly giving His life to redeem mankind.
“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8 ESV)
As we seek to become more like Jesus, we will grow in showing true Christlike respect in all our relationships and interactions.