What does the Bible say about children obeying their parents?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that children should obey and honor their parents in the Lord, receiving godly instruction as part of God’s good order for family life. Ephesians 6:1-4 and Colossians 3:20 call children to willing obedience, while also charging parents not to provoke or discourage them but to raise them in the Lord’s discipline and instruction. The fifth commandment, Exodus 20:12, grounds this honor in God’s covenant purposes. Proverbs commends heeding parental wisdom and loving correction, though discipline must reflect God’s righteous, patient care rather than harshness. This obedience is not absolute: it is rendered “in the Lord,” under Christ’s higher authority and with faith in God’s grace.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Ephesians 6:1-4
[1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise: [3] "that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." [4] You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
- Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
- Ephesians 6:1-3
[1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise: [3] "that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."
- Matthew 15:4
For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
- Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
- Proverbs 1:8
My son, listen to your father's instruction, And don't forsake your mother's teaching:
- Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Deuteronomy 21:18-21
[18] If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and, though they chasten him, will not listen to them; [19] then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place; [20] and they shall tell the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. [21] All the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones: so shall you put away the evil from the midst of you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
- Proverbs 13:24
One who spares the rod hates his son, But one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
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