Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse doesn't just say "obey your parents," but emphasizes that this obedience should be in everything. While there's always the ultimate caveat to obey God rather than man, the "in everything" pushes us to see parental authority as a broad, foundational command, not one to be lightly set aside for convenience. This thorough obedience, rooted in Christ, is what truly "pleases the Lord," reflecting His own perfect submission to His Father.
Paul is laying out practical instructions for how believers should live out their faith in their everyday relationships, moving from general household responsibilities to specific roles within the family. This verse on children's obedience immediately follows the instruction for wives to submit to their husbands, and it precedes the directive for fathers not to exasperate their children, creating a complete picture of reciprocal, God-honoring family dynamics.
Ever wondered why your parents' rules sometimes feel like they come out of nowhere? This verse grounds that familiar command in something much bigger.
Paul here is calling children to a deep, foundational obedience to their parents. This isn't just about following household rules; it's about honoring the God-given structure of family. Think of it as acknowledging the authority God has placed in your parents' hands. It's a vital part of how God intends for families to function, reflecting a larger principle of submission that runs through Christian life.
What does it truly mean for your actions to be 'well pleasing' to the Lord? It’s more than just ticking a box; it’s about the heart behind the deed.
The verse gives a powerful reason for this obedience: 'for this pleases the Lord.' It’s crucial to understand that this pleasing isn't about earning God's favor through perfect performance. Instead, it's about alignment with God's will. When children obey their parents—especially when they do so from a heart motivated by faith and love for God—it reflects a deeper submission to God Himself. It's obedience done 'in the Lord,' meaning it's rooted in our relationship with Christ and flows from His work in us, bringing honor to Him.
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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 directly parallels the instruction to children to obey their parents, reinforcing the concept of respect for parental authority within the Christian life.
Exodus 20:12This foundational commandment from the Old Testament, 'Honor your father and your mother,' establishes the long-standing divine principle of respecting parents, which Paul echoes and expands upon.
Proverbs 23:22This proverb speaks to the importance of listening to one's parents and not despising their wisdom, highlighting the positive outcomes of heeding their guidance, aligning with the idea that obedience 'pleases the Lord'.
Luke 2:51This verse shows Jesus Himself as a model of obedience, subject to His parents even as a young boy, demonstrating that submission in the home is a Christ-like virtue.
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:…
This verse doesn't just say "obey your parents," but emphasizes that this obedience should be in everything. While there's always the ultimate caveat to obey God rather than man, the "in everything" pushes us to see parental authority as a broad, foundational command, not one to be lightly set aside for convenience. This thorough obedience, rooted in Christ, is what truly "pleases the Lord," reflecting His own perfect submission to His Father.
Paul is laying out practical instructions for how believers should live out their faith in their everyday relationships, moving from general household responsibilities to specific roles within the family. This verse on children's obedience immediately follows the instruction for wives to submit to their husbands, and it precedes the directive for fathers not to exasperate their children, creating a complete picture of reciprocal, God-honoring family dynamics.
Paul is laying out practical instructions for how believers should live out their faith in their everyday relationships, moving from general household responsibilities to specific roles within the family. This verse on children's obedience immediately follows the instruction for wives to submit to their husbands, and it precedes the directive for fathers not to exasperate their children, creating a complete picture of reciprocal, God-honoring family dynamics.
"Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." — This verse doesn't just say "obey your parents," but emphasizes that this obedience should be in everything. While there's always the ultimate caveat to obey God rather than man, the "in everything…
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