Children, obey your parents in all things:
for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger,
lest they be discouraged.
Colossians 3:20-21
Matthew Henry writes:
"The duties of children and parents:
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord,
They must be willing to do all their lawful commands, and be at their direction and disposal; as those who have a natural right and are fitter to direct them than themselves. The apostle (Eph. 6:2) requires them to honour as well as obey their parents; they must esteem them and think honourably of them, as the obedience of their lives must proceed from the esteem and opinion of their minds. And this is well-pleasing to God, or acceptable to him; for it is the first commandment with promise (Eph. 6:2), with an explicit promise annexed to it, namely, That it shall be well with them, and they shall live long on the earth.
*Dutiful children are the most likely to prosper in the world and enjoy long life.*
And parents must be tender, as well as children obedient: Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Let not your authority over them be exercised with rigour and severity, but with kindness and gentleness, lest you raise their passions and discourage them in their duty, and by holding the reins too tight make them fly out with greater fierceness. The bad temper and example of imprudent parents often prove a great hindrance to their children and a stumbling-block in their way; see Eph. 6:4.
*And it is by the tenderness of parents, and dutifulness of children, that God ordinarily furnishes his church with a seed to serve him, and propagates religion from age to age.*"
It is a blessed thing to be in the hand of God, knowing He is molding us, as a family, to bring Him glory and accomplishes His eternal purposes.
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