Listening to our parents isn’t always easy, especially when we don’t agree with them. But the Bible offers clear guidance on honoring and obeying parents. It’s more than just about doing what they say—it’s about respect and understanding their role in our lives. Let’s look at what Scripture says about this important relationship.
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What Does The Bible Say About Listening To Your Parents
Ephesians 6:1
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of children obeying their parents. It acknowledges that obeying parents is not only a command but also the right thing to do in the eyes of the Lord.
Obedience to parents is an essential aspect of honoring and respecting them. It demonstrates humility and a willingness to submit to authority, ultimately leading to a harmonious relationship within the family and a deeper understanding of God’s design for authority.
Proverbs 23:22
“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
This verse highlights the importance of listening to and respecting both parents. It encourages children to value their parents’ wisdom and guidance, especially honoring their father who played a significant role in their existence.
As parents age, it becomes even more crucial to treat them with love and respect. Disregarding or despising them in their old age would dishonor their lifetime of sacrifice and hinder the blessings that come from honoring one’s parents.
Colossians 3:20
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
This verse reiterates the command for children to obey their parents. It emphasizes that obedience should extend to every aspect of life, demonstrating a comprehensive submission to parental authority.
By obeying their parents, children not only please their earthly parents but also please the Lord. This obedience allows children to grow in humility, develop a spirit of self-control, and build a foundation of godly character.
Proverbs 1:8-9
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”
This passage emphasizes the value of parental instruction and teaching. It encourages children to actively listen and absorb the wisdom their parents impart, considering it as a beautiful adornment that enhances their character.
By embracing their parents’ teachings, children can gain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, leading to a life filled with blessings and success. It is a reminder that parents’ guidance should never be taken for granted, but cherished and honored.
Proverbs 6:20
“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
In this verse, the importance of heeding both a father’s command and a mother’s teachings is emphasized. It encourages children to remain faithful to the instructions and guidance provided by their parents.
Forsaking parental teachings could lead to harmful choices and negative consequences. By following their parents’ guidance, children can avoid pitfalls, make wise decisions, and align their lives with God’s will.
Proverbs 4:1-2
“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.”
This passage encourages children to actively listen and pay attention to a father’s instruction. It emphasizes the importance of gaining understanding by absorbing the valuable lessons provided.
A father’s instruction is designed to impart wisdom and knowledge, leading to a life of discernment and righteousness. Children are urged not to forsake or disregard this teaching, as it can shape their character and guide them on the path of success.
Proverbs 15:5
“A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.”
This verse contrasts the fool who rejects parental discipline with the wise person who embraces correction. It highlights the importance of humility and openness to receive correction from parents.
By heeding parental correction, children demonstrate prudence and exhibit a willingness to grow and mature. It is through this humility that individuals can cultivate a teachable spirit and forge a path towards wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 30:17
“The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.”
This verse uses vivid imagery to illustrate the severe consequences of mocking a father and despising a mother’s instructions. It emphasizes the seriousness of dishonoring and disrespecting parents.
Disregarding parental instructions not only brings about temporal consequences but also disrupts the natural order of authority established by God. It serves as a warning against rebellion and highlights the importance of honoring parents and valuing their teachings.
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 includes one of the Ten Commandments, emphasizing the significance of honoring both parents. It promises a long life in the land that God has given as a reward for honoring parental authority.
Honoring parents extends beyond mere obedience; it includes respecting, valuing, and cherishing them. Such honor enables children to experience the blessings of longevity, favor, and protection as they abide by God’s command.
Proverbs 13:1
“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.”
This verse distinguishes between a wise son who listens to his father’s instruction and a mocker who dismisses or ridicules parental rebukes. It highlights the contrasting attitudes and responses of children towards their parents.
By heeding their father’s instruction, children demonstrate wisdom and a desire to grow. Conversely, those who mock or reject parental rebukes exemplify foolishness and resistance to correction.
Proverbs 20:20
“If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.”
This verse warns against cursing or disrespecting one’s parents. It illustrates the severe consequences that befall those who dishonor their father or mother, depicting a life devoid of light or guidance.
Respecting parents is not only an act of obedience but also a reflection of one’s character and reverence for God’s established order. It serves as a reminder to honor and show gratitude to parents, avoiding any words or actions that harm or bring shame upon them.
Proverbs 30:11
“There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.”
This verse addresses individuals who curse their fathers and fail to bless their mothers. It highlights the importance of speaking words of edification, love, and honor towards parents.
Blessing parents involves expressing appreciation, praying for their well-being, and speaking kind words that uplift and encourage them. By blessing our parents, we participate in a cycle of love and respect, fostering a nurturing and harmonious family dynamic.
Leviticus 19:3
“Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.”
In this verse, God commands His people to honor and respect their mother and father, linking this command with the observance of His Sabbaths. It reinforces the reciprocal relationship between honoring parents and honoring God.
Honoring parents becomes a reflection of one’s reverence for God and obedience to His instructions. By living out this command, one aligns with God’s desire for family relationships and demonstrates devotion to His sovereign authority.
1 Timothy 5:4
“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.”
This verse addresses the responsibility of children and grandchildren towards widowed parents and grandparents. It emphasizes the importance of practical care and support as a means of repaying the love and sacrifices of parents.
Expressing familial love and care not only meets the tangible needs of parents but also demonstrates one’s commitment to practicing the principles and values taught by their faith. God delights in the generosity shown towards family members, honoring the love and care poured into each generation.
Matthew 15:4
“For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.”
Jesus quotes the commandment to honor one’s father and mother in this verse, also highlighting the severe consequence of cursing or insulting parents. It underscores the value God places on honoring and respecting parents.
While the literal consequence of death may not be relevant today, this verse serves as a solemn reminder of God’s expectation for children to show reverence towards their parents. It establishes the gravity and importance of honoring parents in both the Old and New Testaments.
Proverbs 6:20-22
“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. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.”
In this passage, the father urges his son to treasure and embrace his commands, while the mother’s teaching is equated with a protective and guiding presence. The father’s commands and the mother’s teachings work together to shape a child’s life.
The guidance imparted by parents serves as a compass for their children’s journey, providing direction, protection, and wisdom. When children internalize and live by these teachings, they experience the continuous presence and guidance of their parents even when physically apart.
Proverbs 23:22-25
“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction, and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!”
In these verses, the importance of listening to and valuing both parents is emphasized. Children are urged not to despise their mothers when old and to embrace the truth, wisdom, instruction, and insight that their parents provide.
A father’s joy and a mother’s rejoicing come from witnessing their children grow up as righteous and wise individuals. It brings parents great joy to see their children honor and treasure their guidance, leading to a life of understanding and fulfillment.
Proverbs 4:3-4
“When I was a boy in my father’s house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, ‘Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.'”
In this passage, the speaker reminisces about the instruction and teaching received from his father as a young boy. The father’s guidance worked to shape his character and establish a foundation for a meaningful and fulfilling life.
The father’s guidance was not mere words but a call to wholeheartedly embrace and keep the commands he imparted. By adhering to these teachings, children can experience a life that is truly alive and enriched by the wisdom gained from their parents.
Proverbs 15:20
“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
This verse contrasts the attitude and actions of a wise son who brings joy to his father with a foolish man who despises his mother. It emphasizes the impact that a child’s behavior has on their parents’ emotional well-being.
Through wisdom and understanding, a child has the power to bless their parents and contribute to a harmonious relationship within the family. Conversely, a lack of wisdom and respect brings sorrow and anguish to parents, hindering the growth and unity of the family unit.
Proverbs 19:26
“Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.”
This verse highlights the dishonorable and disgraceful actions of a child who robs their father and drives out their mother. It underscores the devastation caused by such behavior and the dishonoring of parental authority.
Children have a responsibility to treasure and protect their parents, nurturing and caring for them in their vulnerable moments. By exhibiting kindness, love, and support, children can bring honor and respect to their parents, forging a healthy and dignified family unit.
Proverbs 23:24-25
“The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!”
These verses emphasize the joy and rejoicing that parents experience when they have a righteous and wise child. It highlights the profound impact that children who embrace the teachings of their parents can have on their parents’ emotional well-being.
A righteous child brings great joy and pride to their father, while a wise son elicits rejoicing. Parents find immense delight in witnessing their children live according to godly wisdom, making choices that align with their teachings. It is a source of deep joy and fulfillment for parents to see their children embrace righteousness and wisdom.
Proverbs 30:17
“The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.”
This verse employs vivid imagery to depict the severe consequences that befall those who mock a father and despise a mother’s instructions. It serves as a reminder of the gravity of dishonoring and insulting parents.
The verse illustrates that dishonoring parents disrupts the natural order established by God, inviting destructive consequences into one’s life. It serves as a solemn warning against rebellion and highlights the essential value of showing reverence and respect towards parents.
Proverbs 30:11-14
“There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers; those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth; those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful; those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.”
This passage enumerates various negative attitudes and behaviors towards parents. It condemns those who curse their fathers, do not bless their mothers, are self-righteous, and exhibit haughty and disdainful attitudes.
These behaviors disrupt the harmony and love within families and society as a whole. The passage highlights the stark contrast between those who honor and those who dishonor parents, emphasizing the need for children to demonstrate love, respect, and gratitude towards their parents.