The Family: A Study in the Scriptures

THE FAMILY

."Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." Colossians 3:18-21

I. God's eternal purpose in the marriage union was "that He might seek a godly seed." (Malachi 2:14, 15; 4:5, 6). Today there can be seen within Christian circles everywhere a working of the Spirit of God to fully restore to the perfect plan of God the principles set forth in scripture concerning the basic unit of the family.

II. The Husband.

A. His relationship to the wife: love, respect.

Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33
Colossians 3:19
1 Peter 3:7

B. His domestic responsibilities, traditionally.

1. Provision of material needs.

2 Corinthians 12:14
1 Timothy 5:8

2. Government of the home.

Esther 1:22
1 Timothy 3:4, 5, 12
Titus 1:6

3. Spiritual leadership.

a. Instruction from God's Word.

Deuteronomy 4:9, 10; 6:6, 7; 11:19
1 Corinthians 14:35

b. Spiritual training and guidance.

Proverbs 22:6
Ephesians 6:4

III. The Wife.

A. Her relationship to the husband.

1. Love, honor, and submission.

Genesis 3:16
Esther 1:20
Ephesians 5:22-24, 33
Colossians 3:18
Titus 2:3-5
1 Peter 3:1, 2, 6

2. Companion and helpmeet to her husband.

Genesis 2:18; 3:12
Proverbs 31:10-12
Malachi 2:14, 15

B. Traditional domestic responsibilities.

1. Housekeeping.

Proverbs 31:27
1 Timothy 5:14
Titus 2:5

2. Preparation of meals.

Genesis 18:16; 24:13; 27:9
Proverbs 31:14-15

3. Seamstress, etc.

Proverbs 31:13, 19, 21-22, 24

C. Her personal character qualities as wife and mother.

1. Kind, wise, generous and compassionate.

Proverbs 31:20, 26
1 Timothy 5:10

2. Trustworthy, hard-working.

Proverbs 31:10, 11, 18, 27
1 Timothy 5:13, 14

3. Meek and quiet; of modest adornment.

1 Timothy 2:9-11
1 Peter 3:3, 4

4. God-fearing.

Proverbs 31:30

IV. The Discipline of Children.

A. The responsibility of the parents.

Parents are fully responsible to God for the rearing of their children.

Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:6, 15; 23:13, 14; 29:15, 17

1. The importance of correct child training in the Christian home is
evident in the fact that it is paralleled in God's Word to the chastening
of the Lord.

Hebrews 12:6-8
Proverbs 3:11, 12

2. Although discipline must be exercised consistently, wisdom must be
used. Parents are exhorted not to discourage their children, but to
correct them in love.

Ephesians 6:4

3. Children are a blessing from God, and they should be appreciated
(Psalms 127:3, 4; 128:3). Many people cannot have children and have
sought God diligently for the privilege of having a child (Genesis 25:21;
30:1; 1 Samuel 1:5-11, etc.).

B. The obedience of the children.

God demands the respect and obedience of children toward their parents.

Exodus 20:12
Leviticus 19:3
Deuteronomy 5:16; 27:16
Proverbs 1:8; 4:1; 6:20; 20:20; 23:22, 24, 25
Matthew 15:4; 19:19
Mark 10:19 (Luke 18:20)
Ephesians 6:1-3
Colossians 3:20

1. The life of Jesus Himself should be the child's example or pattern for
obedience, submission, and love toward his parents.

a. Although little is revealed in scripture concerning the childhood
of the Lord, it is written that He "habitually (Greek tense) was
subject unto them (His parents)."

Luke 2:51

b. Even when facing death, Jesus' own care for His mother did not
cease. He entrusted her to the care of the disciple whom He loved.

John 19:26, 27

c. "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things
which He suffered."

Hebrews 5:8

2. There is a promise of blessing for obedience toward one's parents.

Exodus 20:12
Ephesians 6:2, 3

C. A home must be centered around love, which demands discipline (on the
part of the parents) and obedience (on the part of the children).

1. Chastening is proof of love and sonship.

Proverbs 3:11, 12 (Hebrews 12:6-8)
Revelation 3:19

2. Obedience is proof of love.

John 14:15
1 John 2:3-6; 5:3
2 John 6

V. The breakdown of the institution of the family is evidence of the times in
which we are living (see 2 Timothy 3:1, 2). But God "shall turn the heart
of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers."

Malachi 4:6

Complete, printed and bound copies of these studies (100 topics, 850+ pages)
may be obtained from:

Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234

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