To honour God means to acknowledge and praise God for his greatness and glory. Fearing God means not only to stand in awe of God or to revere him. It also includes an awareness of the jealousy and holiness of God who will not turn a blind eye to sin (Joshua 24:19). Godly fear does not incite God’s people to flee from him. Rather, it incites his people to flee from sin (Deuteronomy 5:29). Those who through godly fear flee from sin, and who in love keep God’s commandments, have nothing to fear of God’s wrath (1 John 4:18).
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’