Our relationships with extended family play a significant role in our lives. The Bible provides guidance on how to show love, respect, and care for relatives beyond our immediate household. Today, we’ll look at biblical principles that help us build stronger connections with our extended family.
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What Does The Bible Say About Extended Family
Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
This verse highlights the importance of marriage and the joining together of two individuals as one. It emphasizes the formation of a new family unit, but also acknowledges the significance of the bond between a person and their parents.
Exodus 20:12
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 reminds us of the importance of showing respect and honor to our parents. It encourages us to value and cherish the relationship we have with our family members, particularly our parents, as it contributes to a blessed and fulfilling life.
Proverbs 17:6
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
This verse highlights the joy and significance of having grandchildren. It acknowledges the special role that grandchildren play in bringing joy and honor to their grandparents. Similarly, it emphasizes the importance of fathers in the lives of their children, as they bring pride and glory to their parents.
Proverbs 27:10
Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
This verse encourages us not to neglect the relationships we have with our extended family members and friends. It reminds us of the value of maintaining close connections with those who are there for us in times of need, even if they are not blood relatives.
Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
This passage demonstrates the loyalty and devotion Ruth has for her mother-in-law, Naomi. It exemplifies the importance of family bonds and the willingness to support and stay committed to our loved ones, even in difficult times.
Mark 3:35
For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.
This verse reminds us that our spiritual family can be just as important as our biological family. It emphasizes the significance of following God’s will and recognizing the bond we share with other believers, who become our spiritual brothers, sisters, and mothers.
Ephesians 2:19
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
This verse emphasizes that through faith in Christ, we become part of the household of God. It highlights the inclusion and unity we share as believers and the sense of belonging we have in the family of God.
James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
This verse encourages us to care for those in need, such as orphans and widows, and to exemplify true religion by extending compassion and support to the vulnerable members of society. It reminds us of the importance of love and kindness within our extended family of humanity.
1 Timothy 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
This verse highlights the responsibility we have to provide for our relatives, especially those within our immediate family. It emphasizes the importance of meeting the needs of our loved ones and warns against neglecting our familial obligations.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
This verse celebrates the beauty and harmony that comes from family members living in unity. It emphasizes the positive impact of strong familial relationships and the joy that can be found in familial love and support.
1 Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
This verse reminds us of the influence and impact that our extended family members can have on one another. It highlights the power of a believing spouse to bring spiritual blessing and influence to their non-believing partner and the resulting impact on their children.
Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
This verse emphasizes the importance of children honoring and obeying their parents. It reminds us that our obedience to our parents is not only a way to show respect for them but also an act of obedience to God.
2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
This verse acknowledges the spiritual heritage that can be passed down through generations within an extended family. It highlights the influence and impact that a faithful grandparent or parent can have on the faith of their children and grandchildren.
Joshua 24:15
But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
This verse demonstrates the commitment of Joshua and his family to serve the Lord. It encourages us to make a similar declaration of faith within our own families, emphasizing the importance of passing on a legacy of faith to future generations.
Psalm 68:6
God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
This verse highlights God’s care and provision for those who may feel alone or isolated. It reminds us of God’s desire to place the lonely in a loving and nurturing environment, showcasing the importance of familial love and support.
Matthew 10:37
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
This verse challenges us to prioritize our love and devotion to God above all earthly relationships, including our relationship with our family members. It calls us to put God first in our lives and demonstrates the importance of our spiritual connection with Him.
Psalm 103:17-18
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
This passage reassures us of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness to future generations, extending to our children and grandchildren. It emphasizes the importance of passing down the knowledge of God’s love and the importance of obedience to His commandments within our extended family.
Galatians 6:10
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
This verse encourages us to show kindness and do good deeds not only to everyone but also to our fellow believers. It underscores the importance of supporting and caring for our spiritual family, as members of the household of faith.
Hebrews 13:1-2
Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
This passage urges us to maintain a spirit of brotherly love among believers and to extend hospitality to strangers. It emphasizes the importance of treating others, including those outside our immediate family, with love, respect, and kindness.
1 Corinthians 12:26
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
This verse highlights the sense of unity and interconnectedness within the body of Christ. It teaches us to share in each other’s joys and sorrows, demonstrating the importance of supporting and caring for one another as an extended spiritual family.
Matthew 12:48-50
But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
This passage highlights Jesus’ redefinition of family, emphasizing that those who follow and obey God’s will become part of his spiritual family. It underscores the significance of our spiritual connection with Christ and our fellow believers as a bonded family in Christ.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
This verse emphasizes the important role parents or guardians have in guiding and teaching their children. It highlights the impact of early instruction and values, shaping a child’s path and influencing their beliefs throughout their lives.
Acts 16:31
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
This verse demonstrates the power of faith, as seen in the salvation of the Philippian jailer and his entire household. It underscores the potential for our faith to have a positive influence on our extended family, pointing them towards salvation.
Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
This verse reminds us of the precious gift that children are, highlighting the unique blessing they bring to our lives. It encourages us to cherish and care for our children as a valuable part of our extended family.
John 19:26-27
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
This passage demonstrates Jesus’ care for his mother, Mary, as he passes her into the care of the disciple whom he loved, likely John. It showcases the importance of taking care of our family members, even beyond the boundaries of traditional familial relationships.