Colossians 3:20-21

20. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. 21. Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.

Translation and Paraphrase

20. (You) children (and youths), be obedient to (your) parents in everything, for this is well pleasing in the Lord (and to the Lord).
21. (You) fathers, do not stir up (the emotions of) your children (so as to provoke them), lest they become disheartened.

Notes

1.

Probably the most difficult place to be a true Christian is in our homes. There we do not have to impress anyone, or maintain an image. We may be ourselves, and often the ugly feelings stirred up outside the home are released at home.

2.

In the home children are to obey their parents in all things. The term children is by no means limited to those under twelve! Many teen-agers need to give heed to this verse. Probably they have more ability to give heed to it, and often more need to do so, than younger children.

3.

The father in the home (and indeed the mother too) has a grave responsibility. He must avoid the twin pitfalls of child discipline: over-leniency and over-strictness may induce rebellion or lack of personal decisiveness in the child.

4.

Parents should not provoke children. Provoke here means to excite, stimulate, or rouse the emotions, particularly in a bad sense. Parents may do this by constant criticism, by uneven discipline (sometimes strict, sometimes lenient), by refusing to let their children grow up, and many other unwise acts.

5.

The result of prolonged provoking children is that they may become discouraged (broken-spirited), or that they may rebel. Parents should encourage children, rather than discourage them. Children do not often rise higher than the confidence their parents show in them.

Study and Review

57.

How far are children to go in obeying parents? (Colossians 3:20)

58.

Does Paul appeal for obedience of children by a threatening approach, or by some other appeal? (Colossians 3:20)

59.

What does provoke mean? (Colossians 3:21)

60.

What may be the result of provoking children?