Children and Parents

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first com­mandment with a promise), ‘that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.’ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Verses 1-4.

Notice that children are to be obedient to their parents “in the Lord.” That is to say, they are to obey their parents in everything that is not contrary to God’s will. If the parents demand obedience in things that violate the child’s conscience, then this is not “in the Lord.” In such cases, even children are to obey God rather than man.

Fathers are not to provoke their children to anger. All exhorta­tions are given in order to wake us up and make us vigilant where we are weak. When our children do something wrong, we are far more prone to provoke them than to chasten and exhort them. Parents have seen more of life and have a lot more experience in everything; that’s why it is so easy for them to provoke their children instead of exhort them. When we provoke, we indulge our lusts; when we exhort, we have an opportunity to overcome ourselves.