20 Bible Verses about Obeying Your Parents

The Bible tells us to obey our parents for many reasons. First and foremost, it is a commandment from God. In Exodus 20:12, we are told, "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." This is the first commandment with a promise, and it is one that should not be taken lightly.

The benefits of our obedience are many. In Proverbs 3:1-2, we are told that obedience will lead to a long and prosperous life. Additionally, in Ephesians 6:1-3, we are told that obedience is a sign of respect and honor. Obeying our parents will result in God's blessing.

The consequences for disobedience are also significant. In Exodus 20:12, we are told that disobedience will result in a shortened life. When we disobey our parents, we are disobeying God and breaking his commandments. 

These Biblical principles of obedience differ significantly from American cultural standards of autonomy and individualism. In America, we value independence and self-reliance. We are taught to think for ourselves and to follow our own desires. However, the Bible teaches us to submit to authority and to follow the wisdom of those who have gone before us.

How can we promote obedience of children in a Christian home? First and foremost, we must model obedience ourselves. If we want our children to obey us, we must be obedient to God. Additionally, we must be consistent in our expectations and in our discipline. We must also be patient and loving, always pointing our children back to the gospel.

Bible Verses about Obeying Your Parents

Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Proverbs 3:1-2

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 6:20

My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.

Proverbs 13:1

A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Proverbs 15:20

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Matthew 15:4

For God commanded, “Honor your father and your mother,” and, “Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.”

Mark 7:9-13

And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Ephesians 6:1-3

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.”

Colossians 3:20

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 

Consequences for Disobeying Parents

Exodus 21:17

Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Leviticus 20:9

For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21

If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to 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.” Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Proverbs 20:20

If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

Proverbs 30:17

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Disobeying Parents is a Sign of a Debased Mind

Romans 1:28-31

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Submission to Authority and Disciple are Good

Hebrews 12:7-11 

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 

Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 

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. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Jesus Obeyed His Parents

Luke 2:49-51

And he [Jesus] said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.