PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

(c) Children Obeying Their Parents in the Lord and Honoring Them

Ephesians 6:1 says, "The children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." ... Paul indicates that the children of believers are not common. They are different from the children of people in the world. Therefore, the particular children, those in the families of believers, are exhorted to obey their parents in the Lord....

In Ephesians 6:2 and 3 Paul goes on to say, "Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth." This is not only the first commandment with a promise but also the first commandment concerning man's relationship with man (Exodus 20:12). The promise, mentioned in verse 3, is that it may be well with the children and that they may live long on the earth....

(d) Fathers Not Provoking Their Children to Anger, but Nurturing Them in the Discipline and Admonition of the Lord

Ephesians 6:4 says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but nurture them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord." Colossians 3:21 says, "Fathers, do not provoke your children that they may not be disheartened." Provoking to anger damages the children by stirring up their flesh. It is always destructive for parents to be angry with their children. Not provoking the children's anger requires the father's anger to be dealt with by remaining under the cross. The only way we can keep from losing our temper is to stay on the cross. In dealing with your children's wrongdoings or misbehavior, you must first go to the cross and stay there. Otherwise, you will lose your temper, and this loss of temper will provoke your children's anger.

Instead of provoking the children to anger, the fathers are to nurture them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord. To nurture children means to bring them up, to raise them, by nourishing them. Raising children requires that the parents give them the needed instruction related to human life, family life, and social life. The word "admonition" here includes instruction. Paul was probably referring to the Old Testament requirement that parents instruct their children with the word of God (Deuteronomy 6:7). This means that we are to teach our children with the Bible. Along with this instruction, we sometimes must discipline them, chastise them. It is crucial that fathers learn to nurture the children in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.
Witness Lee, The Conclusion of the New Testament, Message 156, pp. 1688-1695

APPLICATION

1. What are the two distinct resources by which we are able to submit ourselves to one another?

2. In marriage, what is the wife's obligation? The husband's?

3. What are the requirements of a father in raising his children?