Dad’s

John 4:46–54 KJV 1900

46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

What would you do for your child?

Responsibilities of fathers

Synopsis

Fathers have a responsibility to love, instruct and discipline their children in the ways of the Lord. In return they are to be honored and obeyed by their children.

The role of fathers

To love and care for their children

Psalm 103:13 (KJV 1900) — 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, So the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

Matthew 7:9–11 (KJV 1900) — 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

To discipline their children

Proverbs 13:24 (KJV 1900) — 24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Deuteronomy 8:5 (KJV 1900) — 5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.

Proverbs 19:18 (KJV 1900) — 18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, And let not thy soul spare for his crying.

Proverbs 22:15 (KJV 1900) — 15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 29:15 (KJV 1900) — 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: But a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Proverbs 15:5 (KJV 1900) — 5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: But he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Hebrews 12:7–11 (KJV 1900) — 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

To instruct their children

Proverbs 13:1 (KJV 1900) — 1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: But a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Ephesians 6:4 (KJV 1900) — 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The rights of fathers

To be honoured by their children

Ephesians 6:2–3 (KJV 1900) — 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Matthew 19:17–19 (KJV 1900) — 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

To be obeyed by their children

Colossians 3:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1 (KJV 1900) — 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Proverbs 6:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, And forsake not the law of thy mother:

Proverbs 8:32 (KJV 1900) — 32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: For blessed are they that keep my ways.

To be heeded(listened to) by their children

Proverbs 4:1 (KJV 1900) — 1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding.

Proverbs 4:10 (KJV 1900) — 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.

The joy of fathers

Proverbs 23:24 (KJV 1900) — 24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: And he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

Proverbs 10:1 (KJV 1900) — 1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Psalm 127:3–5 (KJV 1900) — 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; So are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be ashamed, But they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Proverbs 29:3 (KJV 1900) — 3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: But he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

Proverbs 28:7 (KJV 1900) — 7Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: But he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

Psalm 128:3–4 (KJV 1900) — 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine By the sides of thine house: Thy children like olive plants Round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

The sorrow of fathers

Proverbs 17:21 (KJV 1900) — 21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: And the father of a fool hath no joy.

Proverbs 19:13 (KJV 1900) — 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

Proverbs 17:25 (KJV 1900) — 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.

The roles of fathers-in-law

Exodus 3:1 (KJV 1900) — 1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Children’s responsibility to honour their parents

         “Honour” implies respect, obedience and care for the parents’ needs.

Exodus 20:12 (KJV 1900) — 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Matthew 19:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Ephesians 6:1–3 (KJV 1900) — 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Leviticus 19:3 (KJV 1900) — 3Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

Penalties for disobeying parents

Proverbs 20:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Matthew 15:4–6 (KJV 1900) — 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

The ministry of Jesus Christ may produce conflict within families

Luke 12:53 (KJV 1900) — 53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Following Jesus Christ involves a commitment to him even deeper than love of one’s parents

Matthew 10:37 (KJV 1900) — 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Luke 14:26 (KJV 1900) — 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

We have a Heavenly Father who loves us even more than we love our children or our Dad’s

This Nobleman Knew who to go to get the help he needed for his child.

We also are able to go to this same Jesus and ask for help in time of need

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Nobleman

NOBLEMAN—(Gr. basilikos, i.e., “king’s man”), an officer of state (

Our Heavenly Father also wants what is best for us