The Literal Commandment
You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:32)
The literal commandment is to rise up (stand) before the grayheaded and honor the aged.
Messiah Says
Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)
Pictures of Messiah
G-d has honored those individuals who have long life with the years they have lived. In this commandment we are taught to honor those that G-d has honored. In this we can see that we are taught to honor Messiah as He is honored above all: He has been given the Name above all Names (Philippians 2:9) and authority over all things (Matthew 28:18).
He is the first and He is the last (Revelation 1:17) and He was in the beginning with G-d (John 1:2). That would make Messiah about 6,000 years old or so... we should honor Him greatly. :)
How Messiah Fulfilled
We know that Messiah was without sin (Hebrews 4:15) so we know Messiah fulfilled this commandment.
Traditional Observance
Traditionally this commandment is understood to mean that we should honor those who teach and know G-d's Law [Hebrew: Torah]
For centuries, Bible scholars have frequently referenced an early second century translation of the Hebrew Scriptures known as the Targum Onkelos. This translation reflects the common understanding and meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures around the time of Messiah. [Targum is a Hebrew word that means "translation" and it is attributed to a Jewish convert named Onkelos who lived in the first and early second centuries.] In Targum Onkelos, Leviticus 19:32 is translated as "rise up before the one who studies Torah [G-d's Law]".1
It is from this translation (and the common understanding of the verse which it reflects) that the tradition of honoring those who teach and know G-d's Law has arisen.
Other Notes
We are able to fulfill this commandment today, either in its literal form (to rise up before the gray headed and honor the aged) or in its traditional form (to honor those who teach G-d's Law). May G-d be glorified in either case!
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