Children are a gift from God:
Children are a blessing, a gift from God.
Genesis 33:5: And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.(KJV)
Psalm 127:3-5: Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.(KJV)
Children are precious in the sight of God:
The Bible speaks frequently of children being special. Their simplicity and innocence makes them more sensitive to His work in their hearts than are adults.
Psalm 8:2: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.(KJV)
Jesus quoted this scripture in Matthew 21:15-16 during the Triumphal Entry: And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?(KJV)
Matthew 18:2-6: And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.(KJV)
Matthew 18:10: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.(KJV)
Mark 10:13-16: And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.(KJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go:
We as parents have the responsibility to train our children to respect authority, love God, and follow His direction. One of the earliest promises in the Bible is directed toward children:
Exodus 20:12: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.(KJV)
Deuteronomy 6:6-7: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.(KJV)
Proverbs 1:8-9: My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.(KJV)
Proverbs 15:20: A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.(KJV)
Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.(KJV)
According to Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word for “in the way” literally means: “road, way, path, journey, direction, manner, habit, way, of course of life (fig.), of moral character (fig.)” (KJV)
This can be both in the spiritual realm, directing the child to Christ, and the physical realm, directing him on the course of life most suited to his natural talents and abilities.
Proverbs 22:15: Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.(KJV)
According to Strong’s, the Hebrew word for “correction” means “instruction, correction, chasten, chastisement, check, bond, discipline, doctrine, rebuker.”
We are to use corporal punishment when necessary to discipline and correct our children. This does not mean we have permission to beat, injure, or otherwise abuse our children. This is referring to appropriate, loving correction of a specific behavior. This is made clear in Ephesians:
Ephesians 6:1-4: Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.(KJV)
Strong’s defines the Greek word for “provoke” as “to rouse to wrath, to provoke, exasperate, anger.”
Colossians 3:20-21: Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.(KJV)
