The relationship between parents and children is one of profound significance, encompassing love, respect, and obedience.
Join us on a reflective journey through verses in the Bible that address the topic of disobeying parents.
Discover the wisdom within these scriptures, offering guidance on cultivating honor, humility, and healthy family dynamics rooted in obedience and mutual respect.
Also Read: 21 Bible Verses about Tossed to and Fro (With Commentary)
Bible Verses about Disobeying Parents
Ephesians 6:1-3
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
This verse is a direct instruction from God to obey parents. It outlines the importance of honoring parents and promises a good and long life to those who choose to obey their parents in the Lord.
Proverbs 19:26
“Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.”
This verse highlights the weighty consequences of disobeying parents. It emphasizes the shame and dishonor that result from rejecting and mistreating one’s parents.
Proverbs 30:17
“The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.”
This verse uses a graphic metaphor to illustrate the harsh consequences of disrespecting parents. It emphasizes the severity by suggesting a punishment of death from birds of prey.
Colossians 3:20
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
This verse emphasizes that obedience to parents pleases God. It highlights the importance of obedience in everything, illustrating the holistic requirement of God for children to obey their parents in all aspects of life.
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
This verse is a commandment given by God. It emphasizes the importance of honoring one’s parents, promising a long and blessed life in the land God has given.
Proverbs 15:20
“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
This verse illustrates the contrast between a wise and a foolish child. It emphasizes the joy that comes from a wise child who honors and obeys their parents, while highlighting the foolishness of those who despise and reject their mother.
Proverbs 30:11
“There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.”
This verse emphasizes the disapproval of God towards those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. It highlights the importance of speaking blessings towards parents and avoiding cursing them.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
“If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death.”
This verse illustrates the severity of the consequences of disobedience to parents. It emphasizes the need to honor and obey one’s parents, warning of the dire penalty for those who refuse to listen.
Proverbs 20:20
“If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.”
This verse emphasizes the gravity of cursing one’s parents. It portrays the snuffing out of one’s lamp as a symbol of their life being cut short in utter darkness.
Proverbs 6:20-21
“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.”
This verse highlights the importance of obeying and honoring parents by keeping their commands and instructions close to one’s heart. It emphasizes the lifelong impact of those teachings on a person’s life and character.
Matthew 15:4-6
“For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.”
This passage illustrates the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees over obedience to parents. It emphasizes the importance of obeying the word of God above human tradition. It also highlights the seriousness of disregarding one’s responsibility to care for their parents.
Leviticus 19:3
“Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.”
This verse emphasizes the requirement to respect parents, in addition to observing the Sabbaths. It highlights the connection between respecting parents and honoring God as one’s Lord.
Proverbs 28:24
“Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.”
This verse emphasizes the gravity of robbing parents, and describes it as being a partner to someone who destroys. It highlights the destructive nature of rejecting one’s responsibility towards one’s parents.
2 Timothy 3:2
“People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.”
This verse highlights the relationship between disobedience and unholiness. It describes disobedience to parents as a sign of moral decay and ungodliness.
Proverbs 28:17
“Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.”
This verse emphasizes the seriousness of distress caused by an unwillingness to obey parents. It implies that disobeying parents can lead to guilt as severe as that of someone who has committed murder.
Leviticus 20:9
“Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. Because they have cursed their father or mother, their blood will be on their own head.”
This verse outlines the straightforward consequences of cursing one’s parents. It highlights the severity of the punishment, as it was prescribed to be death.
Matthew 10:37
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
This verse highlights the importance of prioritizing love for God above all else, even one’s parents. It emphasizes the need to honor God in all areas of life, including relationships with family members.
Mark 7:9-13
And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
This passage illustrates Jesus’ teachings about obedience to parents. It highlights the conflict between the teachings of God and the traditions of man. It emphasizes the importance of obeying God and His commands, rather than the traditions passed down by man.
Proverbs 13:1
“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.”
This verse highlights the contrast between a wise and a foolish child. It emphasizes the value of heeding a father’s instruction and rebukes, while warning of the dangers of mocking or rejecting such wisdom.
Proverbs 23:22
“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s father and not despising one’s mother, particularly in their later years. It highlights the value of the life and wisdom given by parents.
What does the Bible say About Disobeying Parents?
In the Bible, the concept of honoring and obeying one’s parents is emphasized in both the Old and New Testaments. The Fifth Commandment, found in Exodus 20:12 (Old Testament), instructs, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” This commandment underscores the importance of respecting and showing gratitude to one’s parents.
The New Testament also addresses the relationship between children and their parents. Ephesians 6:1-3 states, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.'”
These verses indicate that obeying and honoring parents are not only ethical and moral responsibilities but are also linked to the idea of receiving blessings and longevity from God.
However, it’s important to interpret these teachings in their broader context and understand that biblical principles also advocate for parents to treat their children with love, respect, and fairness. Additionally, the Bible acknowledges that all individuals, including parents, are imperfect, and in situations where parental demands contradict God’s commandments or promote harmful behavior, the ultimate allegiance should be to God’s will.
In summary, the Bible promotes the idea of children honoring and obeying their parents as a sign of respect and gratitude, with the promise of blessings from God. Nevertheless, this guidance should be understood in the context of balanced relationships, God’s higher principles, and the recognition that all individuals, including parents, are subject to human imperfections.