Children are to obey their parents because this is right. Respect of children for parents, and indeed for adults in general, is a crucial feature of a healthy society. In our society we see the effects of the breakdown of this order, in schools, in families and in life in general.
Paul refers back to the Ten Commandments, pointing out that honouring our parents is the first commandment to carry a promise with it. One of the key ingredients to a successful life is to obey our parents.
Are parents always right? Of course not, and as the child becomes an adult the person needs to take responsibility for their own life and decisions, but we should still honour our parents, showing them respect (and it may even be sometimes that they are right and we are wrong). Moreover, sometimes showing respect to people is more important than whether a particular decision is right or wrong. An attitude of dishonour is extremely corrosive.
The responsibility is two way, again showing the different attitude there is to authority in the kingdom of God. Parents are not to exasperate their children, ie we are not to use our authority four our own benefit, and are not to abuse it in anyway. We are also to have some consideration for how our children might be feeling or thinking.
Paul refers back to the Ten Commandments, pointing out that honouring our parents is the first commandment to carry a promise with it. One of the key ingredients to a successful life is to obey our parents.
Are parents always right? Of course not, and as the child becomes an adult the person needs to take responsibility for their own life and decisions, but we should still honour our parents, showing them respect (and it may even be sometimes that they are right and we are wrong). Moreover, sometimes showing respect to people is more important than whether a particular decision is right or wrong. An attitude of dishonour is extremely corrosive.
The responsibility is two way, again showing the different attitude there is to authority in the kingdom of God. Parents are not to exasperate their children, ie we are not to use our authority four our own benefit, and are not to abuse it in anyway. We are also to have some consideration for how our children might be feeling or thinking.
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