EXOD424 Let us now examine the motive of each one of these five kinds of benefactors: Is it purely the good of the beneficiary, or might there be an ulterior motive involved? First, the favors of a parent for his child: clearly, a parent intends to further his own interests through his child. The child is part of the parents, who places great hopes in him. Observe how parents are more sensitive to the needs of their children -- in regard to food, drink, and clothing, and keeping them from harm's way – than to their own needs. They gladly put up with all the trouble and hard work that goes into providing the child with security. This is because parents, by nature, have been endowed with feelings of mercy and compassion for their children. Nevertheless, both the Torah and reason oblige the child to serve, honor, and revere his parents, as it is written: “Honor your father and your mother (Shemos 20:12); Each person must revere his mother and his father (Vayikra 19: 3); Listen, my son, to the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother (Mishlei 1:8); A son honors his father, and a servant his master (Malachi 1:6). [The child is so obliged] even though his parents [in helping him] are driven by force of nature. The good actually comes from God; the parent is only the agent.