We live in a world where today, the word authority is almost a bad word. There are two extremes trending: authoritarianism, and relaxed parenting. But according to the Bible, parental authority holds profound significance, representing a cornerstone of family structure. Rooted in scriptural teachings, parental authority encapsulates not only the responsibility bestowed upon parents to nurture and guide their children but also the divine mandate to instill values, discipline, and reverence for God. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, numerous passages underscore the importance of honoring one’s parents and obeying their guidance, reflecting a foundational aspect of familial relationships. This authority is seen as reflective of God’s own authority over His creation, emphasizing a sacred trust bestowed upon parents to steward the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of their children.
A warning
The Bible warns that in the last days:
“…men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” – 2 Timothy 3:2
We can also read:
“And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” – Matthew 10:21-22
This is to show you the terrible state of what a parent/children relationship can be.
Authority is a good word
We should not be ashamed of the word authority. It’s a good word. God calls us to live under his authority for our good. And as parents, we are his agents to exercise authority over our children.
- For their safety
- For their happiness
- For their salvation
We can also think of a commandment with promise which says:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. – Ephesians 6:1-3
As parents, we must require obedience because children are called by God to obey and honor us.
God tells us:
“Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it” – Proverbs 22:60
We use authority to lead our children to Jesus.
Not by being a tyrant, or by letting our children do whatever they want and not correcting them. But by wise, firm, and kind discipline.
Our authority should not lead they away from us but on the contrary it strengthen our bounds. Disciple should be a bounding time, even if there indeed should be consequences.
Children actually feel safer under the right authority.
They feel cared for, loved, and empowered to do better, better at controlling themselves.
Jesus, our example
As Christians, Jesus should be our example in everything. He is the one who possesses all authority.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” – Matthew 28:18
Yet Jesus came as a servant. He is a ruler who serves, and also a servant who rules.
We can simply think of all the times he denied himself to serve and help other, and when He washed his disciples’ feet.
As his people submit to His authority, they are empowered to live freely in the freedom of the gospel.
God has supreme authority, but he is not a tyrant. He truly loves us. And the same should be from us to our children. We want to remember to have authority over our children because we love them.
