According to the Bible, children are expected to act a certain way , which is reflected in many passages that mention honor and discipline. In this article, you will learn more about the role of a child that dates back to Biblical times.
The Bible states that children are also expected to honor and obey their parents. The authority of the parents was great , especially the word of the father. When a parent passed, the inheritance was divided equally between all the sons with the exception of the eldest son, who was given a double portion. In the following passages, you will learn of the importance of heeding the word of parents:
”¢ “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”(Exodus 20:12)
”¢ “And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.” (Exodus 21:15)
”¢ “And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.” (Exodus 21:17)
”¢ “Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” (Proverbs 20:20)
Children are supposed to also respect their elders, as seen in Leviticus 19:32: “You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD.”
As children, it was also a requirement to listen to parents and submit to discipline, which played a role in creating good men and women in society.
”¢ “A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.” (Proverbs 17:25)
”¢ “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Many believe that there is no set age limit where a parent can introduce religion and God to their child. According to the Bible, children have the ability to praise and worship God. This belief is illustrated within the following passages:
”¢ “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21:15-16 ESV)
”¢ “Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.” (Psalms 8:2 ESV)
In the Bible, there were many distinctions between what made a good child and some of the actions associated with a wicked child. You were considered a good child if you knew the Scriptures, filled your parent’s heart with warmth, obeyed the word of your parents, observed the law of God, showed love to parents, and took care of your parents. Wicked children were often described as being proud, lacked understanding, caused their parents grief, cursed their parents, despised their elders, and were viewed as troublemakers.
