Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Colossians 3:20
What does Colossians 3:20 mean?
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Colossians 3:20
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While it seems straightforward, the phrase "in all things" doesn't mean blind obedience; it highlights that this obedience is a fundamental, all-encompassing principle for children, only overridden when parental requests directly oppose God's commands. The real beauty is how this obedience, when done "in the Lord," becomes a sign of faith and a reflection of Christ's own humility and submission.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is laying out practical instructions for how Christians should live out their faith in their daily relationships, moving from household roles like wives and husbands to children and then to servants and masters. This specific verse, "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord," is part of a larger section addressing domestic duties. It’s grounded in the idea that the new life believers have in Christ should transform their interactions within the family and in their work.
The Bible calls children to obey their parents, but what does that obedience look like for followers of Jesus? Is it blind following, or something more profound?
The verse emphasizes that children should obey their parents "in everything." While this sounds absolute, the surrounding context and ancient understanding reveal a crucial nuance. The obedience isn't just about following rules; it's about honoring the God who instituted family structure.
Why is obedience to parents considered so important in Scripture? It's more than just good manners; it's tied to a deeper spiritual reality.
Paul presents filial obedience not merely as a social nicety, but as a sacred duty, deeply pleasing to God. This command is presented within a section of Colossians that outlines Christian household codes, showing how faith impacts everyday relationships.
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Understand the original words
hypakouete · Greek Verb
To hear or listen with the intent to comply; it signifies a posture of respect and active responsiveness to the instruction and authority of parents.
This passage is a direct parallel, also found in Paul's letters, that elaborates on the duty of children to obey their parents, reinforcing the consistent teaching within the New Testament on this topic.
Proverbs 23:22This Old Testament proverb highlights the importance of listening to and not despising a parent's instruction, echoing the spirit of obedience commanded in Colossians and showing its long-standing value in God's eyes.
Exodus 20:12This foundational commandment from the Ten Commandments, 'Honor your father and your mother,' directly underpins the instruction in Colossians, revealing that honoring parents is a divine mandate from the very beginning of God's law.
Luke 2:51The example of Jesus Himself, who 'continued obedient to them' even as a young man, demonstrates that this filial obedience is not just a rule but a virtue worthy of emulation by all believers, perfectly aligning with God's pleasure.
henryColossians 3:18-25: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."
3:18-25 The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And…
meyerColossians 3:20: "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord."
Colossians 3:20 f. Comp. Ephesians 6:1-4 , where likewise is given a characteristic development in fuller detail of what is here only succinctly stated. κατὰ πάντα ] not to be restricted; for Paul is quoting the rule , that which holds good principaliter in the relation of children, while possible exceptional cases obviously come under the principle of obeying God rather than man (Oecumenius:…
While it seems straightforward, the phrase "in all things" doesn't mean blind obedience; it highlights that this obedience is a fundamental, all-encompassing principle for children, only overridden when parental requests directly oppose God's commands. The real beauty is how this obedience, when done "in the Lord," becomes a sign of faith and a reflection of Christ's own humility and submission.
Paul is laying out practical instructions for how Christians should live out their faith in their daily relationships, moving from household roles like wives and husbands to children and then to servants and masters. This specific verse, "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord," is part of a larger section addressing domestic duties. It’s grounded in the idea that the new life believers have in Christ should transform their interactions within the family and in their work.
Paul is laying out practical instructions for how Christians should live out their faith in their daily relationships, moving from household roles like wives and husbands to children and then to servants and masters. This specific verse, "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord," is part of a larger section addressing domestic duties. It’s grounded in the idea that the new life believers have in Christ should transform their interactions within the family and in their work.
"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." — While it seems straightforward, the phrase "in all things" doesn't mean blind obedience; it highlights that this obedience is a fundamental, all-encompassing principle for children, only overridden w…
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Last reviewed October 2026