Why is it?

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers' do not provoke your children to ander, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Why is it that my parents only quoted the first part of this to me, and never the last? I find that exasperating.

So Paul has first laid out a gospel message, and is now getting into what that looks like. We have already discussed husbands and wives, so now to the kids. Obey your parents. I wonder what age group Paul was targeting with this. Was it pre-teens? Teens? Twenty-somethings? Any age that has parents? Because in Jewish culture, you were always to show respect to your parents.

But I love that he adds the piece about Fathers. Because how easy would it be, once someone has achieved Fatherhood, to glory in that role. And Paul basically says, don't do it! Don't let it go to your head. Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Thanks, Dad, I think you got it right. I miss you.