What Jesus Said About Fathers and Mothers Causing Spiritual WoundsSample

Obey your father and mother

This is not an easy subject. But God’s Word is very clear about it. The Word calls on children to obey their parents.

In Exodus 20:12, the sixth commandment of the Ten Commandments is: Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. The apostle Paul repeats this in Ephesians 6:1-3: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honour your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

In 2 Timothy 3:2, we are warned that in the last days, people will be disobedient to their parents: In the last days, terrible times will come, for men will be… disobedient to their parents. We have the same warning in Romans 1:28-31: Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done… they disobey their parents.

Although we may have suffered as a result of our parent’s behaviour, the Bible instructs us to obey our parents. It is clear that if we don’t do it, there will be negative consequences. In 1 Samuel 4-5, we see God’s judgment on the children of Eli. They disobeyed their father, and God let them die on the battlefield. The book of Proverbs encourages us repeatedly to honour our father and mother.

Of course, we are not to submit to our parents if they expect us to sin or go against the revealed will of God in the Bible. But many suffered dearly because they didn’t listen to their parents. Many young people do not listen to their parents when they advise them about the person they want to marry, and too often, when they do not listen to their parents, they suffer grave consequences.

It is of great importance to listen to your parents. It is important to forgive them for all that they may have done wrong to you. You must constantly choose to love them and submit to them. Honour God in this, and God will honour you for obeying him.