What does the Bible say about grown children treating their parents?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that grown children should continue to honor, respect, and care for their parents, while relating to them with truth, wisdom, and Christlike love. Exodus 20:12 calls God’s people to honor father and mother, and Proverbs 23:22 urges children not to despise parents in their old age. Deuteronomy 27:16 warns against treating parents with contempt. Though Ephesians 6:1-3 and Colossians 3:20 address children in the home, their principle of honoring parents endures into adulthood. Such honor does not require obeying sinful demands or enabling harm. Rather, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and Matthew 7:12 call believers to patient, truthful, self-giving love, seeking peace where possible and faithful boundaries where necessary.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Proverbs 23:22
Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
- Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
- 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."
- Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
[1] If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. [3] If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing. [4] Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, [5] doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; [6] doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; [10] but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. [11] When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. [12] For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. [13] But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.
- 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 27:16
Cursed be he who sets light by his father or his mother. All the people shall say, Amen.
- Ephesians 6:4
You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
- Proverbs 13:24
One who spares the rod hates his son, But one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
- Matthew 7:12
Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
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