The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ephesians 6:1-4, “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 that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the
discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

The longer I live, the more I learn. I have jokingly said that if you live long enough, your children will become your parents. I am truly amazed at how much they know. And those of you who were blessed to know my late wife, know where our children learned it all.

There is no age limit on the word “children”; yet it is evident that they are younger than their parents and lack the knowledge their parents possess. The strong implication is that the parents are solidly committed to the LORD and are teaching their children what they have learned from Him through their parents. The word “honor” (????? timao) means to value them and by implication the instruction they give.

It is significant, too, that all of this is linked with the promise of long life on the Earth. Stop and think about this: Why would God connect obedience to parents with long life? Could it not be that His intention is that His instruction might prevail ahead of ungodly instruction from ungodly parents? In case you hadn’t noticed, the family today is under severe attack! Everywhere we turn, there are outcries that seek to devalue the principles that work toward a solid, Christian family.

Paul also tempers his instruction when he warns fathers not to provoke anger in his children. Fathers are not to grind against their children so viciously that it produces anger. Training and instruction are both positive; instruction (???????? nouthesia), however, may also be viewed negatively when it contains warnings against what will occur if obedience is not followed. At the same time, fathers are to be clear in their instructions; and the absence of mothers in the instruction implies her concurrence with her husband. Together, the parents honor the LORD, and the children will live long and grow to be good parents to their children as well.

How do you size up under these instructions? Do your instructions to your children accord with the LORD’s Word? As a child living under your parents’ guidance, do you follow their godly instruction? What is your responsibility if your parents are not Christian parents? Let me suggest that you carefully study the LORD’s Word and seek help from a godly, compassionate pastor. You are in my daily prayers, as well.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom