The Mitzvah of Kibud Av va-Em or Honoring your Father and Mother is the fifth commandment of the Ten Commandments. The fact that is one of the Ten Commandments illustrates its great significance and importance.
However, while the Mitzvah may be a self-evidently rational, ethical principle. But the Talmud refers to it as the most difficult Mitzvah (Talmud Yerusahlmi, Peah I:1).
The Ten Commandments that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai are listed on the tablets in columns of five and five. On the right tablet are the commandments regarding the laws between a person and God (for example, "Don't worship idols"), and on the left tablet the laws between people (for example, "Don't murder"). Yet the mitzvah to honor one's parents is on the right with the commandments between man and God. We learn from this that the relationship between parents and children has very much to do with our relationship with God, again highlighting the great significance of our relationship with our parents. For more information on this important Mitzvah click here.