Parental Authority

Ephesians 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Parental authority is tied to the 10 commandments, though it is clear enough from Old Testament history that it is extant from the beginning. Parental authority leads to life – the first commandment with a promise.

“In the Lord” sets limits on parental authority. Children are not to disobey God in order to obey parents.

“Fathers (v. 4a)” sets the primary locus of responsibility on the Father. Responsibility does not mean that the father has all the power he wishes he had to bring about the ends he should. It means that he will be called to respond for the family.

“Do not provoke your children to wrath” sets responsibility on the father as to methodology. The authority is not cast as some kind of a contest (though children will maneuver from time to time to make it so) in which he pushes the children to the edge. A family is not a military boot camp run by a drill instructor who “breaks” recruits to his will.