Ephesians 6:4 4Fathers, do not anger your children, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
The next group which Paul addresses in the home are the fathers, which obviously would be inclusive of mothers. He may address the fathers specifically since they were considered the “heads” of the Greco-Roman household of the time. They had complete authority within the home. Although cultures may vary in the responsibility of parents, the key ideas of this verse are like the earlier verses and are timeless truths that can apply to fathers, mothers, and those who have guardianship over children.
Paul starts with the negative command that parents should not anger their children. Anger (parorgizete) is translated in different ways such as provoke, irritate, exasperate, scold, nag, or imbitter. The root of this word is translated as “anger.” There are many things a parent can do to cause children to get angry and frustrated. For example, discipline that is not done out of love and correction can cause children to develop bitterness and rebellion. Many problems of society are caused by poor parenting and role modeling.
Parents should work on the positive command of bringing up their children to love and serve the Lord. Children are like clay that can be molded into beautiful vessels to be used by the Lord. The way to do this is through discipline and instruction. Discipline (paideia) refers to the training, guidance, correction, and teaching of children that helps them grow into responsible adults. Such discipline leads to strength and wisdom. Instruction (nouthesia) involves showing children the correct path to take and the wrong path to avoid. This may require strong warnings, such as, don’t put your hand on a hot stove. Much pain can be avoided by taking the good path that leads to righteousness and holiness. Without a conscience effort to guide children, the tendency is for their sinful selfish nature to lead them into rebellion and sin, which will cause great sorrow and pain later in life. Parents are the primary ones responsible for helping their children grow up to experience all the joy and fulfillment promised to those who put their faith fully in Jesus Christ.
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