Obedient Children

Shelby G. Floyd

July 21, 2006

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3.)

Children, Obey Your Parents

In the previous chapter, Paul discussed the responsibilities of marriage.Therefore, it was quite logical for him in the next chapter to discuss the mutual responsibility and obligation of children to their parents, and parents to their children.Children are a priceless possession; they are a heritage given to us by the Lord, and when properly trained they are as arrows in the hands of mighty men. (Psalms 127: 3-4.)

Parents Are to Teach the Children God’s Word

Parents have the responsibility of teaching the word of God, in the home to the children.This grave responsibility was stated in the Law of Moses in the long ago:

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6: 6-9.)

Timothy’s Mother and Grandmother Taught Him

A good example of this divine injunction being carried out is found in the life of young Timothy, preacher of the gospel, and an associate of the apostle Paul. In writing his second letter to this young man, he reminded him of the spiritual training which he had received from his grandmother, Lois, and his mother Eunice. From a child Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures, which was able to make him wise unto salvation through his faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3: 15.)

The reason Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures from a child was because there was an unfeigned faith in God dwelling in his grandmother and his mother which had been passed onto young Timothy. (2 Timothy 1: 4-5.) But children likewise have obligations toward their parents as well as the parents to the children. Paul commanded the children to obey their parents in the Lord for he says this is right. The word obey conveys the meaning of to listen, to hear; to hear a command; to obey, to be obedient unto; to submit to. Children then are required to be obedient to the instruction of the parents in the Lord. Paul said, “Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3: 20.) In order to obey their parents, the children must first hear their parents. Solomon said to his son, “Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.” (Proverbs 1: 8.) Again, he said, “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23: 22.)

Christ Learned Obedience from Suffering

Jesus is an excellent example of this, “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5: 8.) When Jesus was approximately twelve years old, he went with his parents up to Jerusalem to a feast. When they returned, to their home in Nazareth, we have a period of silence in the life of Christ of approximately eighteen years. We do not read of his activities until he was about thirty years of age, but we are informed that during that period of time, Christ was subject to his parents, and in so doing, he increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2: 51-52.)

All Children Deserve Christian Parents

We may see something of the nature of discipline upon the Jewish children by referring to the Law of Moses in which a rebellious and sinful child was stoned to death. (Deuteronomy 21: 18-21.) Therefore, it is imperative that children obey their parents. The obedience which the children were required to render to their parents was in the Lord. It seems that Paul has Christian parents in view, and he is not considering a situation where the parents might be issuing orders contrary to the will of Christ. These children to whom Paul wrote had mothers and fathers who were children of God and, therefore, their obedience was to be directed to their parents in view of the fact that their parents were Christians, and were trying to please the Lord. Their parents had been baptized into Christ; and therefore, they were intimately connected and implanted in the Lord; they were joined to the Lord, and were under his power and influence; they were subject to the Lord.

By virtue then of their parent’s fellowship and union with Christ the Lord, this was the basis on which Paul admonished the children to obey their parents. The reason Paul assigns for their obedience was because it was right. It was right for a child to obey his parents since they brought him into the world, and are charged with his responsibility of life, growth and welfare. It is right also because it is “well pleasing unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3: 20.) Disobedience to parents is a symptom of a disintegrating society, and a mark of apostasy. (Romans 1: 30; 2 Timothy 3: 3.)

Children Are To Honor and Respect Their Parents

Secondly, Paul commands the children to whom he wrote to honor their father and mother. To honor the father and mother means to revere, respect and venerate them. When the rich young ruler asked Christ what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, he told him to keep the commandments, among which was “honor your father and your mother.” (Matthew 19: 19.)

In the book of Leviticus we have a catalog of laws respecting the domestic duties of parents and children. Among them we read: “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19: 32.) Showing honor, respect and reverence for parents is a law originating with God from the very beginning, and continuing through the Christian dispensation. Children who are obedient to their parents learn early in life the lessons of respect which will enable them to live a long, useful and happy life upon the earth.