Raise Your Kids Wisely || Ephesians 6:4 || Mid-Week Midrash #52

“Fathers do not make your children angry, but raise them with the training and teaching of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:4

Paul is telling all parents this! Most pagan and Jewish household leaders ruled their homes with an iron fist. Paul is encouraging all parents not to parent with unreasonable demands and restrictions that could cause their children to have anger, despair, and resentment. Paul wants parents to lead with God-first principles. These principles include systematic discipline and instruction, bringing children to respect God’s commands as their foundation for all life, godliness, and foundation. Learning the details behind this verse is somewhat eye-catching for me.

Realizing that Paul was speaking to both parents was more new-aged than I thought because of the vast patriarchal movement in the Bible. However, it also shows me how modern of a concept it still is. Parents should not lead their children in a way that makes them angry. It’s not helpful to both parties at all. If your boss makes you angry, you know you work differently for the rest of your day. Children are also people, just people with whom you have authority. It’s the parent’s job to teach their children how to manage in the world, treat other people well, and respect others and themselves, among many other things. Leading them in the foundation of God’s teachings is widely beneficial for parents and children. It gives parents a chance to see how their relationship with God is and if something needs correcting in their theology. Children gain the ability to learn of a loving God and how they apply His teachings in their everyday lives.