Episode 24: Children Obey Your Parents

In this Episode Saso and Ben talk about children and how God requires obedience and honor toward parents.
Key Verse
Ephesians 6:1-3
Obey – To comply with the commands, orders or instructions of a superior, or with the requirements of law, moral, political or municipal; to do that which is commanded or required, or to forbear doing that which is prohibited.
Honor – The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation.
Websters 1828
This is the will of God for your life as a child, teenager is to obey and honor. This verse is not to be taken lightly and it carries with it lifetime importance.
There are 2 commands in these verses, obey and honor your parents. One is the action and the other is the heart attitude, however, there is also several motivations that are mentioned.
We see that children are to obey their parents in the Lord and also that this method is the righteous method.
One commentary states that “The child in the home is to be willingly under the authority of parents with obedient submission to them as the agents of the Lord placed over him, obeying parents as if obeying the Lord Himself.”
This not only places responsibility on the child, but also on the parent. In our last episode on the role of a father, we discussed bringing up children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly.
The parent child relationship is like two sides to one coin, however, its exactly how God has designed it. We know this because in verse 1 it says that this is “right”.
Honoring your parents has motivation by blessing to live long. The verse is referring back to the promise added from Exodus to the children of Israel.
Exodus 20:12
In essence we can say that the Lord blesses obedience because it pleases Him.
The first commandment with promise, do you desire to live long upon the land? What does it mean to honor? To submit your will to in obedience to what your parents have commanded you to do. In all things!
Colossians 3:20
Proverbs 6:20-23
The law meaning the word of God which goes back to the duties of parents raising their children in nurture and admonition of the Lord. If parents raise their kids in the way of the Lord, the kids are to keep the commandments and law they have been taught.
Proverbs 13:1
If we are wise we will listen to our father’s instructions.
Proverbs 1:8-9
Matthew 15:4
There was quite a price to pay for those who cursed their father and mother.
Proverbs 23:22
We are not to forget our parents as they grow older, and we are to look out for them. We are not to look down or mistreat them. It’s a shame of when you heard of elder abuse and when you hear it comes from their own children.
The importance of obedience
Obedience is good not because God will bless it but because God said it’s right. The scriptures have a lot to say about obedience.
Proverbs 7:1-3
Example of Obedience
Jesus is our key example of obedience. He was obedient to God the Father during his earthly journey.
Philippians 2:8
Hebrews 5:8 – 10
Motivation for Obedience
John 14:15
Obedience should come from a heart of love for our Lord not a manipulation to gain God’s favor. This is the difference between conversion and conformity. God doesn’t just want people to conform to his “rules”. He wants you to obey because you’ve been regenerated, because you are a new man.
True salvation and faith will produce obedience as its fruit.
Luke 6:43-44
In other words you can’t get apples from an orange tree just as disobedience should not be the fruit of a true believer. Does this mean you will never sin? Absolutely not. But you will have true conviction then you simply repent and confess like 1 John 1:9 says and be restored to fellowship with God.
God places a high value on obedience
1 Samuel 15:22
Consequences of Disobedience and Dishonor
Proverbs 30:17
Deuteronomy 27:16
Cursing’s come from those who disobey and dishonor.
Proverbs 10:1
Let’s be clear, disobedience is flat out sin. You can not justify sin therefore you can not justify disobedience.
We read in Psalm 51 how that children are born as sinners so we are bent toward disobedience from day 1.
Psalm 51:5
In fact disobedience and disrespect were taken very seriously in the old testament.
- Exodus 21:15
- Leviticus 20:9-10
Physical abuse and dishonor toward parents resulted in capital punishment in the old testament. Seems harsh, but I wonder if this was to instill the fear of God in the youth? In today’s society you don’t see this fear, there is no regard for parents, authority or God for that matter.
If a child is left to himself and their obedience is not checked it will have life long consequences affecting relationships with parents, teachers, employers, spouses, and ultimately with God.
What about the new testament? Disobedience still has serious consequences. Disobedience has serious consequences. We read some very sobering verses in the book of Romans.
Romans 1:28-31
One commentary stated that the term “God gave them up” was a judicial term in Greek used for handing over a prisoner to his sentence. When men abandon God, he will abandon them.
Interestingly enough we are seeing this disobedience happening a lot more. But again, the Bible is clear that disobedience in children will continue and continue to grow worse.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Generally observing our world in 2021, it sure feels like we are as in the days of Noah. It seems we are seeing this spirit of rebellion and disobedience much more today than when I was a kid.
We know the Bible condemns rebellion.
1 Samuel 15:23 – For rebellion is as the sin of divination or witchcraft
And we know that the spirit of rebellion is hand in hand with the apostasy we are seeing in the end times.
2 Thessalonias 2:3a
“That day” is referring to the return of Jesus.
Where are you today children?
Are you walking in obedience to the Lord’s command?
Are you obeying your parents in all things?
Are you honoring them as you should?
Maybe you are an adult…Does your life honor your parents?
Have you strayed from what is right?
Do you need to make things right with your parents?
May your days be long on the earth and may you bring honor to your heavenly Father in how you obey your earthly one.
We know that children are not born Christians. We also know that there is going to be a spirit of rebellion from the time of birth until they repent and confess Jesus. However, as parents, our duty is to bring them up in the fear and admonition of the the Lord.
On the other hand, for children and teenagers, obedience is difficult prior to salvation and sometimes it’s difficult even after salvation, however, we have a loving heavenly father that will disciplines and corrects us.
Hebrews 12:5-6