2 Timothy 3: 1-17
Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5650 Human relationships » 5664 children » 5668 children, responsibilities to parents:
Children owe their parents certain important responsibilities, including the duty to honour and obey them.
The duties of children towards their parents:
▶They are to honour their parents◀:
■ ■ ■ Ex 20:12: Exodus 20:12 King James Version (KJV)
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Exodus 20:
V 1–17: TEN COMMANDMENTS God speaks to Moses and gives him the Ten Commandments, which are His moral law for all people for all time. The first four commandments concentrate on man’s relationship with God. The second six commandments treat man’s relationship with man, as commanded by God. Jesus later summarised the first four as loving God and putting Him first, and the last six as loving one’s neighbour as oneself
Exodus 20:12 "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
“Honor thy father and thy mother”: The key to societal stability is reverence and respect for parents and their authority. The appended promise primarily related the command to life in the Promised Land and reminded the Israelite of the program God had set up for him and his people. Within the borders of their territory, God expected them not to tolerate juvenile delinquency, which at heart is overt disrespect for parents and authority. Severe consequences, namely capital punishment, could apply (Deut. 21:18-21). One of the reasons for the Babylonian exile was a failure to honor parents (Ezek. 22:7, 15). The Apostle Paul individualized this national promise when he applied the truth to believers in his day (Matt. 15:4; Mark 7:10; Eph. 6:1-3).
The fifth commandment means to treat one’s “father and … mother” with dignity and respect. The idea is the opposite of the term in vain in 20:7. Paul notes that this commandment is the first one with a promise (Eph. 6:2): “that thy days may be long upon the land”. As such, it ought to inform and encourage God’s people today to respect age and care for the elderly, whether or not they are relatives (21:15, 17; e.g., Lev. 19:3, 32; Deut. 27:16; Prov. 1:8; 16:31; 20:20; 23:22; 23:17).
This is the first Commandment with a promise attached to it. This promise of long life is on the condition of honoring your mother and father. In the Old Testament, it was a serious offense to rebel against your parents. A rebellious child was to be taken to the edge of the city and stoned to death. You see, to honor parents was very high on God's list of priorities for His people.
■ ■ ■ Dt 5:16: Deuteronomy 5:16 King James Version (KJV)
Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
V 6–21: RESTATEMENT Moses restates the Ten Commandments. The first four deal with man’s relationship with God, and the second six deal with man’s relationship with man. The fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath day links those two main divisions. No commandment is said to be more or less important than the others, though the second six obviously follow the first four. A correct relationship with God greatly affects man’s relationship with man.
Deuteronomy 5:16 "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
This verse relates to authority, with the sanctity of the family in mind. Honor involves:
(1) Prizing them highly (Prov. 4:8);
(2) Caring and showing affection to them (Psalm 91:15); and
(3) Showing them respect, reverence, and deference (Lev. 19:3).
“That thy days may be prolonged”: Compare (Exodus 20:12; Matt. 15:4; Mark 7:10; Eph. 6:2-3). Paul indicated that this was the first commandment with a promise attached (Eph. 6:2). Jesus also had much to say about honoring parents (See Matt. 10:37; 19:29; Luke 2:49-51; John 19:26-27).
Ephesians 6:1 says that “obedience” is to be “in the Lord”. Parents are to be honored, but never should their wishes or words become a rival or substitute for the Will or Word of God.
Families who heed this command not only honor the Lord, they strengthen society, producing good citizens and leaders. A rewarding proposition for children is also offered: “honor” your parents, and God will honor you with a longer life (Eph. 6:2-3). The practice of honor is respect.
Matthew 15:4 "For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death."
Our father and mother, actually, are responsible for our birth. God gives us life. He uses our fathers and mothers to bring us to life. We should have great respect for the parents who brought us into the world. God should be first in our lives, but we should have respect for our parents.
■ ■ ■ Proverbs 17:6King James Version (KJV)
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Children's children are grandchildren, and they named them correctly, grand. It seems we have more time for our grandchildren than we did for our children. For an old man to be with his grandson, it helps him remember his own youth; and he wants for him to have the things that he was never able to have. Perhaps, this is why we spoil them so. Children look to their fathers as an example of what they want to become. A truly good father brings joy to his family.
■ ■ ■ Mark 7:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
V 9–13: RESPONSIBILITY Jesus illustrates this by showing that their responsibility to honour and care for needy parents is being avoided wrongly in the name of religious observance
Mark 7:10 "For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:"
“Moses said”: Quoted from Exodus 20:12 (the fifth commandment) and Exodus 21:17. Both refer specifically to the duty of honoring one’s parents, which includes treating them with respect, love, reverence, dignity, and assisting them financially. The second quotation indicates how seriously God regards this obligation.
Verses 11-12: Jews could evade responsibility to parents by declaring their substance “Corban,” “devoted to God.” Religious leaders evidently condoned this clear circumventing of both the letter and the intent of the Old Testament.
■ ■ ■ Ephesians 6:1-3King James Version (KJV)
6 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.
Ephesians 6
V 1–4: FAMILY EXHORTATIONS The outworking of oneness with Christ and unity with Christians is to be reflected in the relationship between children and parents. Children must obey and honour their parents, who must give fair, non-provocative and faithful training and spiritual admonition to their children.
○ ●Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
“Obey … in the Lord”: See Col. 3:20. The child in the home is to be willingly under the authority of parents with obedient submission to them as the agents of the Lord placed over him, obeying parents as if obeying the Lord Himself. The reasoning here is simply that such is the way God has designed and required it (“right”) (Hosea 14:9).
“Children” does not refer particularly to your children but to all offspring. Sons and daughters still under their parents’ roof are to obey and honor them. Obey has to do with action, and honor has to do with attitude.
Although men and women are no longer under the authority of their parents once they themselves marry (5:31), special respect and concern for their parents should continue as long as they live. The child who is brought up to obey and honor his parents will always be sensitive to their wisdom, counsel and welfare.
The first step in promulgating God’s truth was to pass it on to their children. “And you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” Deut.19:7.
Parents were to continually speak about the things of God, so that knowledge and love of Him would become a matter of life and breathe for the family. When the parents were not speaking the testimony would continue. It is God’s plan for His Word to be passed on from one generation to the next. And His primary agent is the family.
“In the Lord”: This phrase grammatically does not modify “parents,” for this would mean that only Christian parents are to be obeyed. Rather the phrase goes with “obey,” that is, obey those parental instructions, whether from Christian or non-Christian parents, that are in line with the Lord’s will.
Notice, “obey your parents in the Lord”. One of the lessons most important to the spiritual growth of a child is to teach them to obey the Lord.
Obedience to the Lord is taught a child in obedience to his parents who are in the Lord. Disobedient children are a problem to themselves, their parents, and to the Lord.
Verse 2-3: “Honor” means have inward respect and reverence for. It is inadequate for children to obey parents only outwardly, verse 1; they must also respect or honor them inwardly. “Which is the first commandment with promise” (or, “for this is the first command with promise”):
The fifth of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3-17 is the very first of all God’s Old Testament injunctions to be given that possesses an attached promise. The promise is twofold: honoring and obeying parents ensures a long and a prosperous life upon earth.
While verse 1 speaks of action, this term speaks of attitude, as Paul deals with the motive behind the action. When God gave His law in the Ten Commandments, the first law governing human relationships was this one (Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16). It is the only command of the 10 that relates to the family because that principle alone secures the family’s fulfillment. Proverbs affirms this principle.
○ ●Ephesians 6:2 "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;"
The right attitude behind the right act of obedience is honor (Timao), which means to value highly, to hold in the highest regard and respect. In both its verb and noun forms the word is often used as a term of reverence, preciousness, and honor regarding God the Father and Christ.
“Honor thy father and mother” is the only commandment of the ten that relates to the family, because that on principle alone, when obeyed, is enough to secure the right relationship of children to their parents. A person who grows up with a sense of respect for and obedience to his parents will have the foundation for respecting the authority of other leaders and the rights of other people in general.
"Honor" means to have high regard for those in authority above you. The reason they are over you, is because it is by God's plan for them to be over you. Children are to honor both their father and mother, to hold them in the highest possible respect.
“The first commandment with promise”: Although submission to parents should first of all be for the lord’s sake, He has graciously added the promise of special blessing for those who obey this command (Deut. 5:16). “Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
Respect for parents is of such grave importance to God that Moses commanded, “He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.” And “He who curse his father or his mother shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 21:15; Lev. 20:9). Either to physically or verbally abuse a parent was a capital offense in ancient Israel.
If your parents were to go completely against God teachings, then your first obligation would be to keep God's law. Children who respect and obey their parents will build a society that is ordered, harmonious and productive. A generation of undisciplined, disobedient children will produce a society that is chaotic and destructive.
Honor of parents encompasses providing for them when they can no longer provide for themselves. Just as parents spend twenty or so years taking care of and providing for their children, their children are to spend whatever time and money is necessary to care and provide for their parents should the parents be no longer able to do so for themselves.
○ ●Ephesians 6:3 "That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
The command to honor your father and mother in 6:2 is two fold. That it may be well with you relates to the quality of life, and that you may live long on the earth relates to the quantity of life promised.
The original promise was to Israel and involved many tangible, physical and earthly blessings. Paul’s reference here shows that it also extends to believers today. Though its blessings may not always be tangible, a family where children and parents live in mutual love and submission will have rich, God given harmony and satisfaction that other families can never know.
We find in Christian families that parents are very interested in their children's welfare. Children, who honor their parents, can learn from the parent’s experiences. Children, who are obedient to parents, do not get on drugs and alcohol. They stay in school and do well.
If parents, that are much older and more experienced, cannot fulfill their responsibilities without being saved and being filled with the Holy Spirit, how much less can children be expected to fulfill their responsibilities without those spiritual requirements?
Discipline follows in their life and they become responsible adults. Discipline and success go hand in hand.
Children are just as much commanded to “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18) and to “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (5:21) as the husbands and wives of 5:22-23 and the parent of 6:4.
☆☆☆ The Dictionary of Bible Themes:
5664 children:
Scripture indicates that children are a gift from God and are to be
- loved,
- disciplined
- and cared for
The term “children of God” is used to describe Christian believers, who must grow up in the faith which they have accepted.☆☆☆
to be continued....
