---

I. THE DUTY OF CHILDREN.

1. The duty itself contains four things.

(1) Reverence (Leviticus 19:3, 20; Hebrews 12:9).

(a) With respect to speech, that it be agreeable to the relation, graced with humility and modesty, giving them honourable titles, pleasing answers, respectful requests.

(b) With respect to behaviour. Rude and haughty looks cannot comport with this duty.

(2) Observance.

(a)  Attending to their instructions.

(b)  Executing their commands.

(c)  Depending on their counsels — as regards a calling in life, and marriage.

(d)  Following their examples.

(3) Pious regards.

(a)  With respect to their benevolence towards us.

(b)  With respect to their claims when in indigence, in infirmity, or dead.

(4) Submission.

(a)  To their admonitions.

(b)  To their corrections.

2. The extent of the duty. We cannot imagine that this is so universal and absolute as obedience to God. He is the only absolute lawgiver (James 4:12), and when parental claims conflict with His, we are absolved from our obedience. Hence we find Acrotatus commended among the ancients because, when his parents had required of him to do an unjust thing, he answered, "I know you are willing I should do that which is just, for so you taught me to do; I will therefore do what you desire, but not what you bid."

3. The reason for the duty: because it is well pleasing to the Lord. The supreme authority of our heavenly Father makes any duties He requires highly reasonable: and in pleasing God you please your parents and yourself too, for you must needs be happy when God and you are pleased (Psalm 19:11; Ephesians 6:1).

II. THE OFFICE OF PARENTS. They are not to irritate their children, but, by parity of reasoning, to so comport themselves in good government as to secure their children's honour. Let us look, then, at this positive side of the matter. L The more general parental duties.

(1) Prayer for all necessary things, but more particularly that they may be God's children.

(2) Good behaviour (Proverbs 20:7; Proverbs 3:22).

2. More particular.

(1) Sustenance.

(2) Education (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6).

(3) Disposal into some fit employment and marriage.

III. THE MEANS OF MANAGING THE DUTIES OF BOTH RELATIONS. 1, To children.

(1) Be thoroughly sensible of the mischief of disobedience, and the benefit of obedience.

(2) Remove all tendencies to the dishonour of parents, and set a value on their instructions.

(3) Perform all with sincerity and impartiality to both parents.

(4) Set about your filial duties willingly and readily.

(5) Persevere in all, whatever temptations you meet with.

2. To parents.

(1) Be sure you keep up the life and power of godliness in your domestic practice.

(2) Maintain your parental authority, and assert the dignity of your relation, yet with love and mildness.

(3) Sweeten all with expressions of endearment, to insinuate the more into their affections, but still with Christian prudence.

(4) Endeavour to carry it with all evenness and impartiality to every child, according to a rational proportion.

(Richard Adams, A. M.)

---

---

KJV: Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

WEB: Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.