Parents are often our role models and guides, but they can make mistakes too. The Bible, known for its wisdom and teachings, acknowledges this reality. It contains verses that address how to handle situations when parents are wrong.
Understanding these biblical teachings can help us deal with conflicts in a way that honors both our parents and our own beliefs.
In this article, we’ll explore some key Bible verses that discuss parents being wrong and how we can respond thoughtfully and respectfully. Do read on!
Also Read: Bible Verses About Parents Love
Top Bible Verses About Parents Being Wrong
Ephesians 6:4
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Colossians 3:21
“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
Ezekiel 18:20
“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”
Deuteronomy 24:16
“Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.”
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Matthew 10:37
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Proverbs 19:18
“Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.”
Hebrews 12:10
“For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”
Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
1 Samuel 2:29-30
“Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?’ Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,’ but now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
These verses highlight various aspects of parental authority, the potential for parents to err, and the importance of prioritizing one’s spiritual responsibilities.
Parental Mistakes and Accountability
Proverbs 13:24
“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”
Proverbs 29:15
“The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.”
Isaiah 1:23
“Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.”
Jeremiah 31:29-30
“In those days people will no longer say, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.”
Lamentations 5:7
“Our ancestors sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment.”
Consequences of Parental Sin
Exodus 20:5
“You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me.”
Numbers 14:18
“The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
2 Kings 14:6
“Yet he did not put the children of the murderers to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses where the Lord commanded: ‘Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.’”
Lamentations 5:16
“The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned!”
Isaiah 3:12
“Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.”
Parental Favoritism and Its Effects
Genesis 25:28
“Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.”
Genesis 37:3
“Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him.”
Genesis 37:4
“When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”
2 Samuel 13:21
“When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.”
2 Samuel 14:28
“Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face.”
Parental Influence and Rebellion
1 Samuel 8:3
“But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.”
1 Samuel 2:22-25
“Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So he said to them, ‘Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?’ His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.”
1 Kings 1:6
“(His father had never rebuked him by asking, ‘Why do you behave as you do?’ He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)”
Proverbs 19:26
“Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother is a child who brings shame and disgrace.”
Proverbs 28:24
“Whoever robs their father or mother and says, ‘It’s not wrong,’ is partner to one who destroys.”
The Role of Parental Guidance
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Proverbs 1:8-9
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”
Proverbs 4:1
“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.”
Proverbs 6:20-22
“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.”
2 Timothy 1:5
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
These verses provide a comprehensive look at different aspects of parental behavior and their consequences as described in the Bible.
Also Read: Bible Verses For New Parents
Parents’ Influence on Children’s Faith
Deuteronomy 4:9
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
Psalm 78:4
“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
Isaiah 38:19
“The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness.”
Joel 1:3
“Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.”
2 Timothy 3:15
“And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
The Dangers of Neglectful Parenting
Proverbs 29:17
“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.”
1 Kings 1:5-6
“Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, ‘I will be king.’ So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. (His father had never rebuked him by asking, ‘Why do you behave as you do?’ He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)”
Proverbs 13:1
“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.”
Proverbs 23:13
“Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.”
Proverbs 29:15
“The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.”
The Responsibility of Parents in Spiritual Instruction
Joshua 24:15
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 11:19
“Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Psalm 127:3
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”
Proverbs 22:15
“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.”
2 Corinthians 12:14
“Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.”
Parental Examples of Wrongdoing
2 Chronicles 22:3
“He too followed the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him to act wickedly.”
Genesis 27:6-10
“Rebekah said to her son Jacob, ‘Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, “Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.” Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.’”
1 Samuel 2:22-25
“Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So he said to them, ‘Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?’ His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.”
1 Kings 21:25
“(There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife.)”
Micah 6:16
“You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”
Parental Discipline and Love
Proverbs 3:11-12
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”
Hebrews 12:7-8
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.”
Revelation 3:19
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
Proverbs 19:18
“Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.”
Deuteronomy 8:5
“Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.”
These subheadings and verses provide further insight into various aspects of parental roles, mistakes, and the importance of guidance and discipline as depicted in the Bible.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Doing Your Best