What Does the Bible Say About Parenting? #11
The Bible entrusts parents with the primary responsibility for raising children in the knowledge and instruction of God, commanding in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 that God's commands be taught diligently at home 'when you sit... when you walk... when you lie down, and when you rise.' Paul instructs fathers not to 'provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord' (Ephesians 6:4), balancing genuine authority with tenderness rather than harshness. Parenting in Scripture is framed as a spiritual calling of formation and example, not merely provision or discipline for its own sake.
Raising children is one of the most demanding and consequential tasks entrusted to human beings, and the Bible treats it as far more than logistics or discipline — it is a spiritual responsibility woven into the fabric of covenant faith. Understanding what Scripture actually asks of parents helps ground the daily work of raising children in something more stable than shifting cultural trends.
What the Bible Teaches
Moses commands Israel to teach God’s words to their children continuously and naturally, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 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.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), making spiritual formation a constant thread of ordinary family life rather than a separate activity. Paul’s instruction to fathers in Ephesians 6:4 — not to “provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” — holds together real parental authority with a warning against harshness that embitters rather than nurtures. Proverbs 22:6 counsels, “train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,” presenting childhood formation as a long-term investment whose fruit often appears only over decades. The Psalmist calls children “a heritage from the LORD” (Psalm 127:3-5), framing them not as burdens to manage but as a gift entrusted to parents’ care.
Living It Out
In practice, biblical parenting means intentionally weaving faith into everyday conversation and routine rather than treating it as a once-a-week concern, and disciplining children in a way that corrects without crushing their spirit. It means recognizing children as gifts on loan from God, which reorients parenting away from anxious control and toward faithful stewardship. Parents who model the patience, forgiveness, and love they hope to instill teach far more powerfully by example than by instruction alone.
Key References
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7
- Ephesians 6:4
- Proverbs 22:6
- Psalm 127:3-5