CHRISTIAN FATHERS

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (KJV).

Fathers are addressed because they represent the governmental head of the family on whom rests the responsibility of child discipline. If left to themselves, children will be rebels, so it is necessary for the parents to train their children. The Bible records the sad results of parents neglecting their children, either by being bad examples to them or failing to discipline them properly. Thus Paul is telling us that the father has several responsibilities toward his children.

He must not provoke them – “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath.” In Paul’s day, the father had supreme authority over the family. Paul is therefore telling fathers (parents), do not use your authority to provoke or abuse the child, but encourage and build up the child. Fathers provoke their children and discourage them by saying one thing and doing another, by always blaming and never praising, by being inconsistent and unfair in discipline, by showing favoritism in the home, and by making promises and not keeping them. Christian parents need the fullness of the Spirit so they can be sensitive to the needs and problems of their children.

He must nurture them – “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” The Christian husband is to nourish his wife and his children by sharing love and encouragement in the Lord. It is not enough to nurture the children physically by providing food, shelter, and clothing. He must also nurture them emotionally and spiritually. Nowhere in the Bible is the training of children assigned to agencies outside the home, no matter how they might assist. God looks to the parents for the kind of training that the children need.

He must discipline them - The word “nurture” also carries with it the idea of learning through discipline. It is translated “chastening” in Hebrews 12. Some modern psychologists oppose the old-fashioned idea of discipline, and many educators follow their philosophy. Yet discipline is a basic principle of life and an evidence of love. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Heb. 12:6). “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Prov. 13:24). However, we must be sure that we discipline our children in the right manner.

He must instruct and encourage them – “Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” The father and mother not only use actions to raise the child, but also words. The Book of Proverbs, for example, is the inspired record of a father sharing wise counsel with his son. Our children do not always appreciate our counsel, but that does not eliminate our obligation to instruct and encourage them. Of course, our instruction must always be tied to the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:13-17).

(Adapted from Bible Exposition Commentary NT)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The father who is afraid to put his foot down will have children who step on his toes!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Admonition

In Eph. 6:4 we read, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (NKJV).

Admonition is the Greek word Nouthesia (νουθεσία = noo-thes-ee'-a). It is made up of two words: “nous” which means mind, and “tithemi” which means to put. The word means admonition, warning, counsel, instruction. Literally, it means to place in the mind and so to warn or give notice to beforehand especially of danger or evil. The idea is to counsel about avoidance or cessation of an improper course of conduct.

In Classical Greek nouthesia is used of instruction with a view to correcting a person’s actions and attitude. In the New Testament nouthesia can refer to advising someone of the danger their actions entail. Thus, there is the sense of warning.

There is no question that the Bible has placed on parents the responsibility of training up their children in the ways of the Lord. It has often been said that children should be left alone until they are old enough to form their own opinions on religious matters. However, to do is a dereliction of duty. Further, here in Eph. 6:4 fathers (and by extension, parents) are challenged to bring up their children “in the training and admonition of the Lord.” This is in contrast to provoking them to anger.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – That He would be forsaken by His disciples (Zech. 13:7)

New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 26:31, 56

Bible Facts

The number of stars are finite (Isa. 40:26). Although man is unable to calculate the exact number of stars, we now know their number is finite. Of course God knew this all along because Scripture declares, “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name” (Psalm 147:4 NKJV). What an awesome God!

Bible Quiz

What two promises are given in Deuteronomy 5 for honoring ones' father and mother?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What did Job’s wife encourage him to do after things went wrong? “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9).

That’s in the Bible

"Won't lift a finger”

“For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers!” (Matt. 23:4 NKJV ).

This was another railing accusations against the Pharisees. The Lord Jesus said they wouldn’t “move... one of their fingers” to help others. For all their teaching, these leaders did not practice what they were teaching. The Pharisees were notorious for adding minute details and requirements to the law that made it impossible for the average person to keep the law. After giving the people all these impossible commands, the leaders would never lift a finger to help ease the burden

Did You Know – Christian History

Robert Robinson was born in Swaffham in Norfolk, on 27 September 1735. He was an influential Baptist and scholar who made a lifelong study of the antiquity and history of Christian Baptism. He was also author of the hymns “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and “Mighty God while Angels Bless Thee.”

Robinson was just a small boy when his dad died. This meant he had to work although still very young. Without a father to guide and steady him, Robert fell in with bad companions. One day his gang of rowdies harassed a drunken gypsy. Pointing her finger at Robert she told him he would live to see his children and grandchildren. This struck at his heart – “If I’m going to live to see my children and grandchildren,” he thought, “I’ll have to change my way of living. I can’t keep on like I'm going now.”

Robert Robinson decided to go hear the Methodist preacher George Whitefield. To hide his real intentions, he suggested that the boys go with him and heckle the gathering. Whitefield preached on the text: “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matt. 3:7). Robert left in dread and under a deep sense of sin that lasted for three years. Finally, at the age of twenty, Robert made peace with God and immediately set out to become a Methodist preacher himself. Two years later, in 1757, he wrote a hymn which expressed his joy in his new faith – ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Robert Robinson died June 9, 1790

A Little Humor

A minister was forced to stop by a traffic cop to pull over for speeding. As the cop was about to write the ticket, the minister said to him, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” The cop handed the minister the ticket and said, “Go thou and sin no more.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“If you keep rejecting the ‘come’ of salvation, you will have to accept the ‘depart’ of damnation!”