3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
Verse three is a continuation of the quote from the fifth commandment (Ex 20:12).
3 “that it may be well with you
Obedience to parents allows for self-control, habits, industry, and a way of life that establishes wellbeing for the child.
and you may live long on the earth.”
Longevity is a greater possibility to children who obey their parents compared to those who disobey. The promise of longevity in this quote had to do with Israel as a nation.
PRINCIPLE:
Obedience to parents fosters self-discipline, which in turn produces stability and longevity for children.
APPLICATION:
The disobedient child in the Old Testament was expected to have a very short life. It is in the best interests of the child to obey his parents because most children who accept discipline from their parents live longer.
Today’s evangelicals have departed to a great extent from the biblical model of training children. They depend on the latest trends in psychology, to the detriment of the spiritual wellbeing of the child. A child needs direction, standards, and biblical viewpoint on life. Part of this understanding is the evil tendency of the human nature and that it is not essentially good. Christian parents have abandoned corporal punishment for fear of injuring the psyche of the child.
