Duties of Parents
T. Croskery Ephesians 6:4 And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They are here summarily expressed, first in a negative and then in a positive form. I. THERE MUST BE INSTRUCTION. "Train up a child in the way he should go." Parents must not suffer them to grow up without instruction, as Rousseau suggested, because not to teach religion is to teach impiety and infidelity; not to teach truth is to teach error. 1. In what principles? (1) In the principles of the Divine Word, which are able to make the youngest "wise unto salvation" (2 Timothy 3:15). "Desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). This is counsel for babes. (2) Teach them they are sinners. (3) Lead them to Christ as the Savior, and pray that the Lord may place his hands of power and blessing upon the little ones, as he did when on earth. (4) Train them in habits of piety, church-going, and religious action. 2. In what manner? (1) Early, like Timothy; (2) gradually (Deuteronomy 6:6-9); (3) patiently (Deuteronomy 6:20-23); (4) lovingly; (5) by example - your own example, and Scripture examples; (6) prayerfully. II. THERE MUST BE DISCIPLINE. 1. Children soon manifest a corrupt and selfish nature, for folly is bound up in their hearts; therefore they need correction (Hebrews 12:9). 2. Parents must isolate them by their personal authority from evil or evil companions or temptations to evil. 3. Parents must use discipline with due discretion; they must not "provoke their children to wrath, lest they be discouraged" (1) by unreasonable commands; (2) by undue severity; (3) by exhibitions of anger. III. ENCOURAGEMENTS OR MOTIVES TO THE FAITHFUL DISCHARGE OF PARENTAL DUTY. 1. The promise: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:3). 2. We shall have the interests of eternity secured early in life. 3. We shall thus restrain them from many follies and sinful habits which would otherwise be the burden and curse of their after life. 4. We shall be promoting our own happiness and comfort in old age. 5. We shall be shaping the destinies of future generations. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. WEB: You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.