V.  Child Responsibility

A.  God's General Command to Obey, to Honor

Children have one clear commandment from the Lord, and that is to obey (with due reverence and honor) their parents.

Deuteronomy 5:16 (honor parents)

Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Exodus 20:12 (honor parents)

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Leviticus 19:3a (revere parents)

Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father.

Ephesians 6:1-2 (obey parents)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise.)

Col. 3:20 (obey parents)

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

 

B.  God's Specific Commands to Children

A child should learn how to survive healthfully in his physical environment. A child, though, must also know how to survive healthfully in his spiritual environment. A careless run into the street could take a child’s life. A careless run into spiritual danger could take a child’s soul.
Early, therefore, a child must be taught to respect parental warnings—whether of physical or spiritual danger. A careless approach to either could be costly.
As obedience grows, maturity must grow. A child needs to go beyond the "because I told you so" in terms of running into the street. He needs to understand why people do not wisely do so. Likewise, a child needs to be directed to obedience to God’s Word. But he also needs to understand the principles behind obedience to God’s Word. The child must understand the nature of God and the protectiveness of His restrictions. He must understand the consequences of defiance to those restrictions.
The Scriptures in this section—most directed specifically to the child—should be clearly taught to the child. The child should be expected to obey them. And as soon as maturity permits, they should understand the "why" of obeying them.

Exodus 21:15,17 (must not strike, curse parents)

And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

Proverbs 23:22 (remain teachable)

Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

Lev. 19:32 (honor the elderly)

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.

Exodus 22:28 (respect those in authority)

Thou shalt not…curse the ruler of thy people.

Ecc. 11:9-10 (put away evil from flesh)

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Proverbs 13:20 (choose friends with care)

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Luke 2:51a-52 (submit / grow in wisdom, stature, favor) [Jesus’ example]

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Deut. 30:2 (obey the Lord and His Word)

And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

1 Peter 5:5a (submit to those older)

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Hebrews 13:17a (obey those of authority)

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves.

 

 

 

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