What the Bible says about parents

parents

The question of what the Bible says about relationships between generations is one of the questions most often asked on our site. Below we give the main biblical texts related to this topic, though of course not all of them.

Holy Scripture has many statements about relationships between parents and children, because this is an important spiritual and moral issue in human life. Every age, within its own culture, contributes something of its own to the way this issue is addressed; the Bible offers us a view of it from a spiritual perspective. The most important thing the Word of God tells us about these relationships is that they always stand before the face of God, and the Creator is far from indifferent to how we act toward our own parents and children.

The statements of Holy Scripture on this topic can be divided, in a general way, into four groups. First, relationships between parents and children are examined in detail in the Pentateuch, mainly within the framework of the Law of Moses. The first and one of the key words about family relationships is found at the very beginning of the Bible, in the account of the creation of man. By establishing marriage as the norm for family life, the Lord speaks of a certain age-related emancipation of children from their parents, without abolishing the moral content of their relationships. The remaining books of the Pentateuch then mainly contain commandments about the honor and respect children owe to their parents. The words about honoring parents, included in the Ten Commandments, the very foundation of biblical faith and morality, are not limited by age or by a person's own family status; the duty to honor parents is presented here as an obligation not so much before the parents themselves as before God.

At the same time, the Law obligates parents to care first of all for the moral character of their children (Deut. 21:18ff.). Although in some texts one hears echoes of the clan consciousness of the ancient Near East, which united all members of a household under the authority and moral responsibility of the head of the house, the Word of God nevertheless commands honor for parents while clearly distinguishing the moral responsibility of children and parents for their own lives (Deut. 24:16).

The Law gives special attention to the prohibition against cursing parents. Here, almost for the first time in religious history, a word is equated with an action in its spiritual significance.

The second group of statements about relationships between generations is found in the wisdom books and, in part, in the historical books of the Bible. While repeating much of what is said in the Law, the wisdom books of the Bible give primary attention to the duty of parents to care for the spiritual growth of their children. Wisdom, which in the wisdom books means life according to God's commandments, obedience to God, and avoidance of sin, is the chief thing parents must pass on to their children. The wisdom books view righteousness as work that requires both wisdom and effort of the will. Therefore teaching wisdom, teaching the moral foundations of life, is joined here with the need to exercise parental authority. Indulging children's weaknesses and impulses leads, according to Jesus son of Sirach, to destructive consequences for both parents and children (Sir. 30:1ff.). At the same time, the wisdom books emphasize that in order to pass on the experience of righteousness to children, parents themselves must live according to the commandments (Sir. 41:8ff.). In addition, the wisdom books speak of the duty of gratitude to parents for what they have done for their children (Tob. 4:3-4, Sir. 7:29-30).

The third group of texts, small in scope, belongs to the prophetic books. The words of the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel have special importance here. The prophet Isaiah compares a person's attitude toward the earthly father and mother who gave that person life with the person's attitude toward the Creator Himself. From the likeness of these relationships follows the duty of honor and gratitude both to God and to parents. At the same time, the duty of parents is likened to what God does for the people He created.

The prophet Ezekiel, refuting common ideas of his time in the name of the Almighty, proclaims the personal responsibility of every person before God. The father's righteousness will not save the son, nor will the father's sin destroy the son; the son's righteousness will not save the father, and the son's sin will not destroy the father. Thus God builds a relationship with each person individually. At the same time, these words of Ezekiel emphasize that despite the importance of mutual obligations, the spiritual life of parents and children proceeds with a real degree of independence; in any case this applies to adult children. Therefore relationships between generations can at times become conflictual, as the prophet Micah says in words that would later be quoted by Jesus Christ. The prophets see people's liberation from sin in family relationships as the result of God's saving action, which is to be accomplished through Christ. Only He can, according to the word of the prophet Malachi, turn the hearts of fathers to children and the hearts of children to fathers, that is, give them the possibility of true spiritual unity before the face of God.

Overall, the Old Testament characteristically considers relationships between parents and children in a religious context; these relationships must be dedicated to God and ordered in a manner worthy of Him. Already in antiquity these ideas came into conflict with an unbiblical approach to the issue (2 Macc. 7:20ff.).

Finally, the fourth and last group of statements belongs to the New Testament. To a significant degree the New Testament texts repeat, and at times directly quote, the most important thoughts formulated in the Old Testament. Yet for the New Testament, the issue of relationships between generations appears as a particular case of relationships between people in general; as in all other cases, the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are called to love their neighbors, including their relatives. The Lord Himself, as the Gospel emphasizes, submitted Himself in childhood to the parental authority of His Most Pure Mother and His foster father Joseph. Later the Lord repeatedly turned to the words of the prophet Micah and emphasized that relationship with God is fundamentally important for ordering any human relationships. For this reason it can also become a cause of division between people, including relatives. The Lord calls His disciples His family (Matt. 12:46ff.), giving kinship a radically spiritual character. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) holds a special place among the words of the Lord Jesus Christ; in it the Lord, like the prophet Isaiah before Him, speaks of the likeness between relationship with God and relationships with parents. The sorrow of the Most Holy Mother of God at the foot of the Cross became for all time an example of the love and compassion that unite parents and children.

The epistles of the apostle Paul, in a new context, repeat the commandment to honor parents as a call to love. The apostle emphasizes that children and parents are called to love, and that their duties toward one another are mutual. Speaking about honoring parents, the apostle also adds words saying that parents, too, should respect children.

Related quotes:

Deuteronomy ch. 21, verse 18

¹⁸If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

Deuteronomy ch. 24, verse 16

¹⁶The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Sirach ch. 30, verse 1

¹He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.

Sirach ch. 41, verse 8

⁸Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:

Tobit ch. 4, verse 3-4

³And when he had called him, he said, My son, when I am dead, bury me; and despise not thy mother, but honour her all the days of thy life, and do that which shall please her, and grieve her not.

⁴Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for thee, when thou wast in her womb: and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave.

Sirach ch. 7, verse 29-30

²⁹Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.

³⁰Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.

2 Maccabees ch. 7, verse 20

²⁰But the mother was marvellous above all, and worthy of honourable memory: for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day, she bare it with a good courage, because of the hope that she had in the Lord.

Matthew ch. 12, verse 46

⁴⁶While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Luke ch. 15, verse 11-32

¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons:

¹²And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

¹³And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

¹⁴And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

¹⁵And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

²⁰And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

²¹And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

²²But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

²⁴For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

²⁵Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

²⁶And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

²⁷And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

²⁸And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

²⁹And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

³⁰But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

³¹And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

³²It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Genesis ch. 2, verse 24

²⁴Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Exodus ch. 20, verse 12

¹²Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Exodus ch. 21, verse 15

¹⁵And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

Exodus ch. 21, verse 17

¹⁷And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

Leviticus ch. 18, verse 7-14

⁷The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

⁸The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.

⁹The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.

¹⁰The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.

¹¹The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

¹²Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.

¹³Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.

¹⁴Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.

Leviticus ch. 19, verse 3

³Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus ch. 20, verse 9

⁹For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Deuteronomy ch. 5, verse 16

¹⁶Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Deuteronomy ch. 21, verse 18-21

¹⁸If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

¹⁹Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

²⁰And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

²¹And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Deuteronomy ch. 24, verse 16

¹⁶The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

Deuteronomy ch. 27, verse 16

¹⁶Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Tobit ch. 4, verse 3-4

³And when he had called him, he said, My son, when I am dead, bury me; and despise not thy mother, but honour her all the days of thy life, and do that which shall please her, and grieve her not.

⁴Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for thee, when thou wast in her womb: and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave.

Proverbs ch. 1, verse 8-9

⁸My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

⁹For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Proverbs ch. 4, verse 1-10

¹Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

²For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

³For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

⁴He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

⁵Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

⁶Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

⁷Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

⁸Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

⁹She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

¹⁰Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Proverbs ch. 6, verse 20-23

²⁰My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

²¹Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

²²When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

²³For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Proverbs ch. 10, verse 1

¹The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

Proverbs ch. 13, verse 1

¹A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Proverbs ch. 13, verse 25

²⁵The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Proverbs ch. 15, verse 5

⁵A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Proverbs ch. 15, verse 20

²⁰A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Proverbs ch. 17, verse 6

⁶Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs ch. 17, verse 21

²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

Proverbs ch. 17, verse 25

²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

Proverbs ch. 19, verse 26

²⁶He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

Proverbs ch. 20, verse 20-21

²⁰Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

²¹An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

Proverbs ch. 23, verse 22-25

²²Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

²³Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

²⁴The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

²⁵Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

Proverbs ch. 28, verse 7

⁷Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

Proverbs ch. 28, verse 24

²⁴Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.

Proverbs ch. 29, verse 3

³Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

Proverbs ch. 29, verse 15

¹⁵The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Proverbs ch. 30, verse 17

¹⁷The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

Sirach ch. 3, verse 1-16

¹Hear me your father, O children, and do thereafter, that ye may be safe.

²For the Lord hath given the father honour over the children, and hath confirmed the authority of the mother over the sons.

³Whoso honoureth his father maketh an atonement for his sins:

⁴And he that honoureth his mother is as one that layeth up treasure.

⁵Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his own children; and when he maketh his prayer, he shall be heard.

⁶He that honoureth his father shall have a long life; and he that is obedient unto the Lord shall be a comfort to his mother.

⁷He that feareth the Lord will honour his father, and will do service unto his parents, as to his masters.

⁸Honour thy father and mother both in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon thee from them.

⁹For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out foundations.

¹⁰Glory not in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father's dishonour is no glory unto thee.

¹¹For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to the children.

¹²My son, help thy father in his age, and grieve him not as long as he liveth.

¹³And if his understanding fail, have patience with him; and despise him not when thou art in thy full strength.

¹⁴For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.

¹⁵In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather.

¹⁶He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that angereth his mother is cursed: of God.

Sirach ch. 7, verse 25-27

²⁵Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.

²⁶Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.

²⁷Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.

Sirach ch. 7, verse 29-30

²⁹Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.

³⁰Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.

Sirach ch. 22, verse 3-5

³An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a [foolish] daughter is born to his loss.

⁴A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her father's heaviness.

⁵She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.

Sirach ch. 30, verse 1-13

¹He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.

²He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance.

³He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he shall rejoice of him.

⁴Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.

⁵While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he was not sorrowful.

⁶He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends.

⁷He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.

⁸An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful.

⁹Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.

¹⁰Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end.

¹¹Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.

¹²Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart.

¹³Chastise thy son, and hold him to labour, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence unto thee.

Sirach ch. 33, verse 18-24

¹⁸Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.

¹⁹Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.

²⁰As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.

²¹For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.

²²In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.

²³At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.

²⁴Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant. .

Sirach ch. 41, verse 8-10

⁸Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:

⁹And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.

¹⁰All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.

Sirach ch. 41, verse 21

²¹And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife.

Sirach ch. 42, verse 9-11

⁹The father waketh for the daughter, when no man knoweth; and the care for her taketh away sleep: when she is young, lest she pass away the flower of her age; and being married, lest she should be hated:

¹⁰In her virginity, lest she should be defiled and gotten with child in her father's house; and having an husband, lest she should misbehave herself; and when she is married, lest she should be barren.

¹¹Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter, lest she make thee a laughingstock to thine enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and make thee ashamed before the multitude.

Isaiah ch. 45, verse 9-10

⁹Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

¹⁰Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

Ezekiel ch. 18, verse 1-22

¹The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

²What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

³As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

⁴Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

⁵But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,

⁶And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

⁷And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

⁸He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

⁹Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.

¹⁰If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,

¹¹And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,

¹²Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,

¹³Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

¹⁴Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,

¹⁵That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,

¹⁶Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

¹⁷That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

¹⁸As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

¹⁹Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

²⁰The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

²¹But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

²²All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

Micah ch. 7, verse 2-6

²The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.

³That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

⁴The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.

⁵Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

⁶For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

Malachi ch. 3, verse 1

¹Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi ch. 4, verse 6

⁶And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

2 Maccabees ch. 7, verse 20-41

²¹Yea, she exhorted every one of them in her own language, filled with courageous spirits; and stirring up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach, she said unto them,

²²I cannot tell how ye came into my womb: for I neither gave you breath nor life, neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you;

²³But doubtless the Creator of the world, who formed the generation of man, and found out the beginning of all things, will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again, as ye now regard not your own selves for his laws' sake.

²⁴Now Antiochus, thinking himself despised, and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech, whilst the youngest was yet alive, did not only exhort him by words, but also assured him with oaths, that he would make him both a rich and a happy man, if he would turn from the laws of his fathers; and that also he would take him for his friend, and trust him with affairs.

²⁵But when the young man would in no case hearken unto him, the king called his mother, and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life.

²⁶And when he had exhorted her with many words, she promised him that she would counsel her son.

²⁷But she bowing herself toward him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn, spake in her country language on this manner; O my son, have pity upon me that bare thee nine months in my womb, and gave thee such three years, and nourished thee, and brought thee up unto this age, and endured the troubles of education.

²⁸I beseech thee, my son, look upon the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, and consider that God made them of things that were not; and so was mankind made likewise.

²⁹Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of thy brethren, take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy brethren.

³⁰Whiles she was yet speaking these words, the young man said, Whom wait ye for? I will not obey the king's commandment: but I will obey the commandment of the law that was given unto our fathers by Moses.

³¹And thou, that hast been the author of all mischief against the Hebrews, shalt not escape the hands of God.

³²For we suffer because of our sins.

³³And though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastening and correction, yet shall he be at one again with his servants.

³⁴But thou, O godless man, and of all other most wicked, be not lifted up without a cause, nor puffed up with uncertain hopes, lifting up thy hand against the servants of God:

³⁵For thou hast not yet escaped the judgment of Almighty God, who seeth all things.

³⁶For our brethren, who now have suffered a short pain, are dead under God's covenant of everlasting life: but thou, through the judgment of God, shalt receive just punishment for thy pride.

³⁷But I, as my brethren, offer up my body and life for the laws of our fathers, beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our nation; and that thou by torments and plagues mayest confess, that he alone is God;

³⁸And that in me and my brethren the wrath of the Almighty, which is justly brought upon our nation, may cease.

³⁹Than the king' being in a rage, handed him worse than all the rest, and took it grievously that he was mocked.

⁴⁰So this man died undefiled, and put his whole trust in the Lord.

⁴¹Last of all after the sons the mother died.

Matthew ch. 10, verse 21-22

²¹And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

²²And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew ch. 10, verse 32-37

³²Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

³³But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

³⁴Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

³⁵For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

³⁶And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

³⁷He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Matthew ch. 12, verse 46-50

⁴⁶While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

⁴⁷Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

⁴⁸But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

⁴⁹And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

⁵⁰For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew ch. 15, verse 3-6

³But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

⁴For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

⁵But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

⁶And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.

Matthew ch. 19, verse 4-6

⁴And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

⁵And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

⁶Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Matthew ch. 19, verse 16-19

¹⁶And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

¹⁷And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

¹⁸He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

¹⁹Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew ch. 19, verse 29

²⁹And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Mark ch. 3, verse 31-35

³¹There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.

³²And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

³³And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

³⁴And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

³⁵For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Mark ch. 7, verse 9-13

⁹And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

¹⁰For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

¹¹But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

¹²And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

¹³Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Mark ch. 10, verse 6-9

⁶But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

⁷For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

⁸And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

⁹What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Mark ch. 10, verse 18-19

¹⁸And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

¹⁹Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

Mark ch. 10, verse 29-30

²⁹And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

³⁰But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Luke ch. 2, verse 51

⁵¹And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

Luke ch. 8, verse 19-21

¹⁹Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

²⁰And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

²¹And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

Luke ch. 14, verse 26-27

²⁶If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

²⁷And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.