Children, responsibilities to parents

The duties of children towards their parents

They are to honour their parents

Exodus 20:12 YLT

‘Honour thy father and thy mother, so that thy days are prolonged on the ground which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee.

See also Pr 17:6; Mk 7:10; Eph 6:1–3

They are to obey their parents

Colossians 3:20–21 YLT

the children! obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord; the fathers! vex not your children, lest they be discouraged.

See also Eph 6:1

They are to behave well

Proverbs 20:11 YLT

Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.

Children as a blessing and source of joy to their parents

Ps 127:4–5; Pr 23:24

See also Ps 128:3; Pr 15:20; Pr 27:11; Pr 29:3; Lk 15:23–24

Children born to barren mothers bring special joy

Sarah:

Ge 18:11; Ge 21:2

Rachel:

Ge 29:31; Ge 30:22

Manoah’s wife:

Jdg 13:2; Jdg 13:24

Hannah:

1 Sa 1:5; 1 Sa 1:20

Elizabeth:

Lk 1:7; Lk 1:24; Lk 1:57

Children as a source of grief and disappointment to their parents

Proverbs 17:25 YLT

A provocation to his father is a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.

See also 1 Sa 8:3; Pr 17:21; Pr 19:13; Pr 19:26; Pr 28:7; Pr 29:15

The punishment of children

The punishment of wicked children

Ex 21:15; Le 20:9; Dt 21:18–21; Pr 30:17; 2 Ti 3:2

The punishment of children for the sins of their fathers

Ex 20:5–6; Nu 14:18; Je 31:29–30 Jeremiah here stresses the importance of individual responsibility in the present crisis without denying the notion of corporate responsibility; Je 32:18