Topical Bible: Parents: when Wicked: Instruct Their Children in Evil

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In the biblical narrative, the role of parents is pivotal in shaping the moral and spiritual direction of their children. Scripture provides numerous examples and warnings about the influence of wicked parents who lead their offspring astray, instructing them in evil rather than righteousness.

One of the most striking examples is found in the account of King Ahaz of Judah. Ahaz is described as a king who "did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God" (2 Kings 16:2). He followed the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, even sacrificing his own son in the fire, according to the abominations of the pagans (2 Kings 16:3). This act of wickedness not only demonstrated his own rebellion against God but also set a destructive example for his descendants.

Similarly, the legacy of King Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, illustrates the profound impact of a parent's wickedness on their children. Manasseh "did evil in the sight of the LORD" (2 Kings 21:2) and led the people of Judah into greater sin than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. His actions included rebuilding high places, erecting altars for Baal, and practicing witchcraft and divination (2 Kings 21:3-6). Manasseh's reign was marked by such evil that it provoked the LORD to declare impending judgment on Judah (2 Kings 21:12-15).

The influence of wicked parents is further highlighted in the Proverbs, which frequently contrast the outcomes of righteous and wicked parenting. Proverbs 22:6 advises, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This implies that the inverse is also true: training a child in wickedness can lead to a lifelong path of evil. Proverbs 20:7 states, "The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him," suggesting that the opposite is true for the wicked.

The prophet Jeremiah also speaks to the generational impact of sin, lamenting the waywardness of the people of Judah who followed in the sinful footsteps of their ancestors. Jeremiah 9:14 notes, "Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them." This passage underscores the tragic cycle of sin perpetuated by parental instruction in evil.

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the Pharisees and teachers of the law, condemning them for leading others astray. In Matthew 23:15 , He declares, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." This rebuke highlights the severe consequences of spiritual leaders—and by extension, parents—who guide others into falsehood and wickedness.

The biblical narrative consistently warns against the influence of wicked parents who instruct their children in evil. These examples serve as a sobering reminder of the responsibility parents bear in guiding their children toward righteousness and the fear of the LORD.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 9:14
But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 1:18
For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Contents.
... 21. The great Obligation upon Parents, to instruct their Children. 23. ... 241. In
his Duty to his Parents. ibid. ... ib. To burn up the Wicked. 316. ...
/.../beveridge/private thoughts upon a christian life/the contents.htm

Thoughts Upon Christian Education.
... Word paideia signifies, that Discipline which Parents ought to ... into, or continuing
in any wicked course ... And therefore to chatechise or instruct Children in the ...
/.../private thoughts upon a christian life/thoughts upon christian education.htm

The Great Duty of Family Religion
... such monstrous profane and wicked governors appear? ... commands his people to instruct
their children in the ... and servants to disregard their parents and masters ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the great duty of family.htm

As a Child
... Fathers and mothers were to instruct their children that the law ... The parents of Jesus
were poor, and dependent ... years He lived among the wicked inhabitants of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 7 as a child.htm

Jacob's Sister Susannah.
... religious parents, whose great care was to instruct their child, and ... laid a great
charge upon her parents not to ... dwell in the tents of the wicked.' Read that ...
/.../stories of boys and girls who loved the saviour/jacobs sister susannah.htm

Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother.
... other hand, it is written of the wicked, Ps.109 ... irritable] child, he employs a
schoolmaster to instruct him; if ... would be well to preach to the parents also, and ...
/.../luther/the large catechism/thou shalt honor thy father.htm

"Thou Shalt Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother. "
... to the flesh, but (as they ought) instruct and direct ... thereby it finds occasion to
despise its parents, to murmur ... all this, there are some so wicked that they ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt honor thy father.htm

They Shall be Called the Children of God
... If we must not instruct our children because at present ... a child should be freed from
duty to his parents? ... The wicked suck poison from that breast of ordinances ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/19 they shall be called.htm

The Fifth Commandment
... eye; so a sin in the wicked is not ... When parents instruct not their children, they
seldom prove blessings. ... Parents should observe great decorum in their whole ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 5 the fifth commandment.htm

1 Timothy ii. 15-Nov
... But if he be wicked, though you leave him boundless ... Above all, instruct them to be
pious, modest, despisers of ... to secure a good reward to their parents, so all ...
/.../homily ix 1 timothy ii.htm