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NASB | Ephesians 6:4 ¶ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 6:4 ¶ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive; nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them], but bring them up [tenderly, with lovingkindness] in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. |
Bible Question: I have a friend whose fatgher has quoted a whole lot of Scriptures at him about respect for fathers. The problem is he seems to have taken the message of Scripture out of context, demanding his (adult) children obey him and respect him without giving any respect in return. I know Ephesians 6:4 covers how fathers should be to children. Are there any other Scriptures that can be presented as to how fathers/parents should treat their children? |
Bible Answer: thestraws fathers should treat their children in the same way in which God, our Father, treats us, His children. genesis 3 and 4 show us two examples in which God is angry, disappointed and at the same time, a very loving, giving and encouraging Father. First, in Genesis 3 God is angry at Adam and Eve, and yet at the same time providing for them by making their clothes (Gen 3:21). In Genesis 4, God is dissappointed in Cain for the quality of his offering. And, at the same time, God is encouraging Cain that he, Cain, is capable of doing better, all he needs to do is to try (Gen 4:6-7). A father has a right to expect and even demand respect from his children. But, a father has a responsibility to love, nuture and protect his children. As God has taught us by example, so many times. Brian |