How to Treat Your Parents

Posted 5/1/2002 3:03:46 PM

How are children to treat their parents?

Obey them Eph 6:1, Rom 1:30
In all things! Col 3:20
Care for their widowed mothers 1Ti 5:4
Honor them Ex 20:12, De 5:16, Mt 15:4, Mr 10:19, Eph 6:2 - to live long!
Hate them along with spouse, siblings, and your own life Luk 14:26
Fear them Le 19:3
Hearken to your father, and don't despise your mother Pr 23:22

That's what the Bible says. Now let's look a little more into each of these actions, and put them in their context.

Obey

Some examples of obedience:

Jacob went to another country to find a wife, as his parents desired Ge 28:7
Joseph obeyed his dad Israel and went out to find his brothers Ge 37:13
David did as his dad Jesse told him, and left his sheep in the care of another to go visit his brothers at battle 1Sa 17:20
Esther did as Mordecai told her Es 2:20
Jesus made Himself subject to His parents Lu 2:51

Putting it simply; do as they say.

Care

This particularly talks about caring for parents in their old age, or when they are incapable of taking care of themselves:

Joseph brought his father and family to Egypt so he could care for them Ge 45:9-12
Ruth stayed with Naomi so she could take care of her Ru 2:2

Honor

Stand up before an old person, to honor him Le 19:32
Go to extra effort to give honor to your mother, as Solomon did 1Ki 2:19
Make them glad by listening to them, and searching for truth, wisdom, and understanding Pr 23:22-25

Don't

Hit them Ex 21:15, or curse them Ex 21:17, for you'd die under OT law
Steal from them, as if it's not a sin Pr 28:24
Declare yourself free from responsibility to honor them, just by declaring all their efforts a "gift" Mt 15:4-5

Hate

This one is a surprise, and doesn't make sense! There isn't any way out from the word hate. Even in Greek, it means detest and hatred! Look at the other sayings in this passage Lu 14:25-35:

Bear your cross, and follow Jesus
Count the cost before you start following Him, just as a builder estimates his costs before building, or a king counts his forces before battle.
Salt is only good if it is salty

In the same way, a Christian forsakes everything to become Jesus' disciple Lu 14:33. This isn't hatred as in animosity, it's a comparison of our love for Jesus that nothing else is at alll attractive or lovely. Just like Paul says Php 3:7, all his achievements are nothing but impediments to having Christ.

Fear

This is an old English word for honor, respect, reverence. Check out the Honor section above. Yes, afraid, but as before a powerful person that needs to be honored and respected.

Hearken

Simple: pay attention, with a yielding, obedient attitude. This is appropriately combined with don't despise because you can listen without obeying or yielding yourself to your parents' advice. Pr 23:22-25 is particularly applicable here.

All verses in this article