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What does the Bible say about disrespectful children?

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The Bible teaches that children should honor and obey their parents in the Lord, while parents exercise loving, godly discipline and point their children to Christ. Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:1 call for honor and obedience as part of faithful life before God, and Colossians 3:20 describes such obedience as pleasing to the Lord. The severe judgments in Exodus 21:15, Leviticus 20:9, and Deuteronomy 21:18-21 show how seriously God regarded hardened, public rebellion under Israel's old covenant civil order. Proverbs warns that contempt for parents brings ruin, while also commending wise correction. In Christ, families are called not merely to outward submission, but to repentance, grace, and reverent obedience from the heart.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Leviticus 20:9

    "'For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

  • Colossians 3:20

    Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

  • 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 30:17

    The eye that mocks at his father, And scorns obedience to his mother: The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, The young eagles shall eat it.

  • Exodus 21:15

    "Anyone who attacks his father or his mother shall be surely put to death.

  • 2 Timothy 3:1-5

    [1] But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. [2] For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, [4] traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; [5] holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away from these, also.

  • 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.'

  • Ephesians 6:1

    Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

  • Proverbs 13:24

    One who spares the rod hates his son, But one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

  • Exodus 20:12

    "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.

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