How Should Children Treat Their Parents?

Children, obey your parents as the Lord wants, because this is the right thing to do. The command says, “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first command that has a promise with it— “Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”- Ephesians 6:1-3

Being young is not easy. Some children have a difficult time respecting people, especially their parents. God commands children to honor their parents (Exodus 20:12). It is important to God when a child honors their parents because it is the right thing to do (Colossians 3:20, Ephesians 6:1). When children honor their parents, it shows that the child respects them. Respecting parents involves listening to what they say and what they teach them (Proverbs 1:8-9, Proverbs 23:22).

It is the duty of the child to obey their parents just like they would obey God. There is only one circumstance when a child should not listen to their parents. It is when they want their child to sin against God, like if they want their child to lie, murder, steal, cheat, or do anything else that is against God’s commandments (Exodus 20:3-17).

There are gifts God gives to children who honor their parents. In Ephesians 6:3 says that if a child honors their father and mother everything will go well for them. They are blessed because they have the opportunity to live a long life on the earth (Exodus 20:12). If a child does not honor their parents, then there are consequences. They are cursed and it could lead to their death (Deuteronomy 27:16, Leviticus 20:9, Matthew 15:4).

Prayer of the day:

Dear heavenly Father,

We pray for the children. We pray for them to honor their parents just like You want them to. We know sometimes it is hard to listen and show respect to our parents because we are sinners. That is why we humbly pray to You. Please help our children who struggle to be obedient. Help them to listen to You so they can be blessed in the way You want them to be. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!