Children and Parents

Ephesians 6:1–4 ESV

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 go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Children Obey your Parents

Ephesians 6:1 ESV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Obey in the Lord

obeying parents is obeying God

This is right/good

Notice this does not say fathers force your children obey but rather children learn to obey

Obedience lasts while in the parents house

Honor your Father and Mother

Ephesians 6:2–3 ESV

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Honor - respect

first command again it is obedience to the lord

Deuteronomy 5:16 ESV

“ ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

With a promise - long life and it may go well with you

So then if we respect our parents then we obey God and he promises us a long good life.

This command does not cease even after we leave our parents house

4 or 94 we should still respect our parents honor them

Discipline vs Abuse

Ephesians 6:4 ESV

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Do not provoke your children to anger

when we are angry we often provoke others to anger

God says do not allow our anger to provoke our children to lash out

people often say do not seek discipline when your angry count to 10 I tell you the best thing would be to pray for God’s direction before the confrontation.

again no protection for children in Roman society Fathers had complete authority here they are given command to not abuse it.

instead we are to bring them up in discipline and instruction of the lord

what then is difference between discipline and abuse

Goal -

discipline says I want them to learn

Abuse says I want them punished

End Result

Discipline - they change their mindset about the behavior

Abuse - they change their mindset about me - often in fear

always remember the goal is not to punish bad behavior or even to reward good behavior rather we are trying to instill the values and ideals of Scripture in them.

If one begins to internalize Scripture they will not need punishment or rewards for their conscience will provide both punishment for disobedience and reward for obedience.