Scripture connects honoring one’s father and mother with children’s obedience and practical care for parents. The commandment “Honor your father and your mother” is repeated in the New Testament: children are instructed to obey their parents “in the Lord”; Jesus rebukes those who used excuses to avoid helping their father and mother, while Paul says that children and grandchildren should repay their parents with due care.
What does the Bible say about this?
- The commandment says: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). Paul reminds children of it and calls it the first commandment with a promise (Ephesians 6:2–3).
- Paul addresses children: obey your parents in the Lord—for this is right (Ephesians 6:1); Colossians 3:20 instructs children to obey their parents in everything, because this pleases the Lord.
- Parents, and fathers in particular, are told not to provoke their children, but to raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21).
- Jesus says that those who declare their possessions to be “Corban,” a gift to God, and therefore do nothing for their father or mother, nullify the Word of God by their tradition (Mark 7:9–13).
- Paul writes: children and grandchildren should learn to repay their parents with due care; whoever does not care for their own has denied the faith (1 Timothy 5:4, 8).
Brief answer prepared by the editorial team; Scripture quotations are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
8 Scripture passages · “Father’s Blessing” Bible
Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother, [so that it may go well with you and] so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Ephesians 6:1–3
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and you may live a long life.”
Mark 7:9–13
9 And He said to them, “Is it right that you nullify the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition? 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of his father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If anyone says to his father or mother, Corban, that is, a gift to God by which you might have been benefited from me,’ 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus nullifying the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. And you do many things like this.”
Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:4
But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is pleasing to God.
1 Timothy 5:8
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Ephesians 6:4
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Colossians 3:21
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
