Colossians 3:21

Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.

'FATHERS' -The same type of warning would apply to mothers (for they can exasperate their children also). But fathers are addressed: (a) They are the final authority in the home, i.e. they are to see that they don't do this, and that neither does their spouse. (b) They might be prone to be the more critical or insensitive of the two parents in the home.

'PROVOKE NOT' -2042. erethizo er-eth-id'-zo; from. presumed prolonged form of 2054; to stimulate (especially to anger): -provoke.

-do not fret and harass' (Wey); 'don't overcorrect' (Phi); 'stop exasperating' (Wms).

'THAT THEY BE NOT DISCOURAGED' -'disheartened' (Rhm); 'lest their spirit should be broken' (Con); 'become discouraged and quit trying' (Tay)

Points to Note:

1. Notice how practical the Bible is. God knows that people can go overboard in both directions. They can be too lenient or they can become too strict. God knows that you can overcorrect. child, you can be too harsh. The Bible certainly doesn't endorse child-abuse.

2. 'i.e. irritate by exacting commands and perpetual fault-finding' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 542). Creating the climate in which. child feels that they can never please their parents, is. foolish and sinful abuse of authority.

3. Eadie notes, 'if they are teased and irritated by perpetual censure, if they are kept apart by uniform sternness, if other children around them are continually held up as immeasurably their superiors, if their best efforts can only moderate the parental frown, but never are greeted with the parental smile, then their spirit is broken..' (p. 256)

4. Unfortunately, some very zealous, but misguided religious parents have caused dishonor to the name of Christ, by breaking the spirit of their children. Carefully note: Overcorrection, discouraging my child, breaking my child's will to the point of soulless obedience--is. sin.

5. Hendriksen observes, 'In ancient times when things went wrong all the blame was heaped on wives, children, and slaves.' (p. 171) Carefully note: God holds parents, husbands and fathers as responsible for abuses of their authority.

THE SERVANT/MASTER RELATIONSHIP:

Points to Note:

1. Paul didn't command slaves to rebel. Coffman notes, 'True Christianity does not consist of any kind of attack upon social institutions..' (p. 382) It is not the purpose of the church to attack or undermine the government (Romans 13:1 ff; 1 Peter 2:13). And neither it is the purpose of the church to reform the various institutions of society.

2. Barclay points out that Paul's instructions to slaves and masters.... 'Paul says things which must have amazed both sides.' (p. 164)

3. Many note that God may have spent more space in this letter on the slave-master relationship, because of the case concerning Onesimus which this congregation was faced with.

4. The fact that God addresses both slaves and masters, is proof that: (1) Both stood on equal footing before God. (2) God believed that the slave was capable of the exact same level of spiritual growth as his master. God doesn't believe that economic disadvantage or lack of education creates an inherent hindrance to pleasing Him or obeying His will.