The Torah states concerning a person’s parents: “Each of you shall fear his mother and his father” (Leviticus 19:3). The Sages teach that the verse first lists the parent whom one naturally fears less.

Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: It is revealed and known before the One who spoke and the world came into being that a person honors his mother more than his father, because one’s mother persuades him with affectionate speech. Therefore, He gave precedence to the father before the mother in the commandment to honor one’s parents (Exodus 20:12). And it is revealed and known before the One who spoke and the world came into being that a person fears his father more than his mother, because one’s father teaches him Torah. Therefore, He gave precedence to the mother before the father in the commandment to fear one’s parents (Leviticus 19:3). (Mekhilta deRabbi Yishmael, Yitro, Mesekhta deBaĥodesh 8)