“He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach” (Proverbs 19:26).
In the shadow of Mount Sinai, God declared: “He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 21:15). Honoring/respecting one’s father and mother does not in any way include the use of physical mistreatment of them. Anyone who approves of disobeying or mistreating one’s parents had a debased mind (Rom. 1:28-32).
Any child—from age 1 to 91—who mistreats his father or mother is a hideously shameful offspring. Anyone listening to the modern day “influencers” who are encouraging teenage and adult children to “divorce” their parents (i.e. chase them out of their lives and slam the door) are advocating for people to behave as shameful offspring.
No one’s parents were perfect (not even Jesus’). And no wise parent believes he/she was flawless. Our world is full of parents who are parenting unwisely, and their decisions today will probably impact their offspring’s life in negative ways. Welcome to the real world.
None of timeless, unfortunate truths about parents changes the fact that the only reason why you exist on this earth today is because of your conception from your parents’ DNA. Without those two specific people, there would not be and never would be: You.
Honor your parents. Don’t be a shameful offspring.
