The son is commanded to honor his father and fear him. And if it should happen that his father becomes angry with him or punishes him unjustly — such as when the father is suffering from some unrelated heartache, or because of the father’s character, or lack of intelligence — then the son must have the awareness to suffer it all in honor of the mitzvah of his Creator. Heaven forbid that the son contradict him, speak harshly to him, or embarrass him. In particular, if one’s parents are of sound mind, the son must always consider that his parents are in the right in everything they do to him. If it appears in his eyes that they have acted out of line, it is because of his own lack of understanding, for it is the way of children to always justify themselves in everything they do. It seems to the children as if it is their parents who are acting inappropriately. However, an intelligent and God-fearing son assumes that his parents’ behavior towards him must certainly be correct. He therefore listens very carefully to their rebuke and does not veer at all from whatever they tell him.
It is also a mitzvah for the son to bring merit to his father and mother after they pass away, and whatever is in his power to do so that they rest in peace and for the elevation of their souls, he should do for the rest of his own life.
