What Does the Bible Say About Disciplining Children?

Adherence to Rules

• Part of disciplining involves teaching your child rules to live by. God is very specific in his commands to Moses in Deuteronomy 6:7, which he passed on to the Israelites: "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." The rules referred to in this verse are the Ten Commandments. The apostle Paul told the children in the church at Ephesus, "Obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." When looking to the Bible in disciplining your children, you can stress that obeying is a Godly characteristic that He expects from both adults and children.

Respect

• Respecting authority figures is another Biblical command found in early chapters of the Bible. Deuteronomy 5:16 instructs children to ̶0;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." While this specifically speaks to the Israelites entering the promised land, the basic teaching remains true. If children do not learn to respect their parents and other adults, they will probably find themselves on the receiving end of the punishment aspect of discipline as disrespect often leads to disobedience and an arrogant attitude.

Training

• Proverbs contains much wisdom for parenting. Chapter 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Training and disciplining go hand in hand. Instructing your child in Godly ways to live takes place daily. It is not always easy; your child may rebel sometimes against your teachings, as the prodigal son did in Luke 15. As he matures, remind him of Proverbs 12:1: "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid." These are strong words, but they reinforce the truth that discipline is ultimately beneficial when we embrace it as God intends -- as a learning tool to help us grow in wisdom and understanding.

Punishment

• Disciplining will sometimes include admonishment and punishment, according to the Bible. In Hebrews 12:9, it says: "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?" When you decide on appropriate punishments, it can be helpful to use the Bible as a guide, remembering how Jesus taught those who had sinned. Corporal punishment is a controversial topic, with some people pointing to Proverbs 29:15, which states that "the rod and reproof give wisdom," as justification. However, the Bible does not encourage beating children, instead advocating that children need guidance rather than being left to themselves.