10 Key Bible Verses on Family

This text is a part of the Key Bible Verses collection.

All commentary notes tailored from the ESV Study Bible.

1. Genesis 1:28

And God blessed them. And God mentioned to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the ocean and over the birds of the heavens and over each dwelling factor that strikes on the earth.” Read More

As God had blessed the ocean and sky creatures (Gen. 1:22), so too he blesses humanity. Be fruitful and multiply. This motif recurs all through Genesis in affiliation with divine blessing (see Gen.9:1, 7; Gen. 17:20; Gen. 28:3; Gen. 35:11; Gen. 48:4) and serves as the premise of the biblical view that elevating trustworthy youngsters is part of God’s creation plan for mankind. God’s creation plan is that the entire earth needs to be populated by those that know him and who serve correctly as his vice-regents or representatives. subdue it, and have dominion. The time period “subdue” (Hb. kabash) elsewhere means to carry a folks or a land into subjection so that it’ll yield service to the one subduing it (Num. 32:22, 29). Right here the concept is that the person and lady are to make the earth’s assets useful for themselves, which means that they might examine and develop the earth’s assets to make them helpful for human beings typically. This command offers a basis for sensible scientific and technological improvement; the evil makes use of to which individuals have put their dominion come because of Genesis 3.

2. Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mom, that your days could also be lengthy within the land that the LORD your God is providing you with. Read More

Honor your father and your mom. The phrase “honor” means to deal with somebody with the right respect because of the individual and their position. With regard to folks, this implies (1) treating them with deference (cf. Ex. 21:15, 17); (2) offering for them and taking care of them of their outdated age (for this sense of honor, see Prov. 3:9). Each Jesus and Paul underline the significance of this command (Mark 7:1–13; Eph. 6:1–3; 1 Tim. 5:4). That is the one one of many Ten Commandments with a selected promise hooked up to it: that your days could also be lengthy—which means not only a lengthy life, however one that’s stuffed with God’s presence and favor.

3. Genesis 2:24

Due to this fact a person shall go away his father and his mom and maintain quick to his spouse, they usually shall turn out to be one flesh. Read More

The textual content highlights the sense of oneness that exists between the person and the lady. Adam joyfully proclaims, “This ultimately is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” This terminology is used elsewhere of blood family members (Gen. 29:14). This sentence and the story of Eve’s creation each make the purpose that marriage creates the closest of all human relationships. It is usually necessary to watch that God creates just one Eve for Adam, not a number of Eves or one other Adam. This factors to heterosexual monogamy because the divine sample for marriage that God established at creation. Furthermore, the kinship between husband and spouse creates obligations that override even responsibility to at least one’s dad and mom (due to this fact a person shall go away his father and his mom and maintain quick to his spouse, Gen. 2:24). In historical Israel, sons didn’t transfer away after they married, however lived close to their dad and mom and inherited their father’s land. They “left” their dad and mom within the sense of placing their spouse’s welfare earlier than that of their dad and mom. The time period “maintain quick” is used elsewhere for working towards covenant faithfulness (e.g., Deut. 10:20; see how Paul brings these texts collectively in 1 Cor. 6:16–17); thus, different Bible texts can name marriage a “covenant” (e.g., Prov. 2:17; Mal. 2:14). Paul’s instructing on marriage in Eph. 5:25–32 is based on this textual content. The sense of being made for one another is additional mirrored in a wordplay involving the phrases “man” and “lady”; in Hebrew these are, respectively, ’ish and ’ishshah. On account of this particular affiliation, Gen. 2:24 observes that when a person leaves his dad and mom and takes a spouse, they shall turn out to be one flesh, i.e., one unit (a union of man and lady, consummated in sexual activity). Jesus appeals to this verse and Gen. 1:27 in setting out his view of marriage (Matt. 19:4–5).

4. Matthew 19:4–6

He answered, “Have you ever not learn that he who created them from the start made them female and male, and mentioned, ‘Due to this fact a person shall go away his father and his mom and maintain quick to his spouse, and the 2 shall turn out to be one flesh’? So they’re not two however one flesh. What due to this fact God has joined collectively, let not man separate.” Read More

He who created them . . . mentioned is a robust affirmation of the divine inspiration of the OT Scriptures, as a result of Jesus goes on to cite phrases from Genesis that aren’t attributed to any speaker (“Due to this fact a person . . .” cf. Gen. 2:24) and attributes these phrases to God.

What . . . God has joined collectively implies that marriage isn’t merely a human settlement however a relationship wherein God modifications the standing of a person and a girl from being single (they’re not two) to being married (one flesh). From the second they’re married, they’re unified in a mysterious method that belongs to no different human relationship, having all of the God-given rights and tasks of marriage that they didn’t have earlier than. Being “one flesh” consists of the sexual union of a husband and spouse (see Gen. 2:24), however it’s greater than that as a result of it signifies that they’ve left their dad and mom’ family (“a person shall go away his father and his mom,” Gen. 2:24) and have established a brand new household, such that their major human loyalty is now to one another, earlier than anybody else. let not man separate. Jesus avoids the Pharisaic argument about causes for divorce and goes again to the start of creation to display God’s intention for the establishment of marriage. It’s to be a everlasting bond between a person and a girl that joins them into one new union that’s consecrated by bodily intercourse (Gen. 2:24).

5. Ephesians 6:1–4

Kids, obey your dad and mom within the Lord, for that is proper. “Honor your father and mom” (that is the primary commandment with a promise), “that it could go effectively with you and that you could be stay lengthy within the land.” Fathers, don’t provoke your youngsters to anger, however carry them up within the self-discipline and instruction of the Lord. Read More

Kids. The second household relationship illustrating submission to correct authority (Eph.5:21) is that of kids and fogeys. The Mosaic regulation prescribed loss of life for the kid who struck or cursed a mother or father (Ex. 21:15, 17; Lev. 20:9), and Paul lists such disobedience as one among many grave sins (Rom. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:2). Nevertheless, Paul urges in Eph. 6:1–3 the constructive responsibility of kids to obey their dad and mom. Obedience is because of each dad and mom; the mom’s submission to her husband doesn’t take away her parental dignity however somewhat will increase it. Within the Lord modifies the verb “obey.” proper. What makes such obedience “proper” or “simply” is that it conforms to God’s holy commandment, quoted in Eph. 6:2–3.

6. Colossians 3:20–21

Kids, obey your dad and mom in every part, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, don’t provoke your youngsters, lest they turn out to be discouraged. Read More

Paul’s phrases to youngsters replicate the fifth commandment (Ex. 20:12).don’t provoke your youngsters. Males are urged to restrain their anger and every other attitudes that may embitter their youngsters (cf. Eph. 6:4), lest they despair of pleasing their dad and mom.

7. Psalm 127:3–5

Behold, youngsters are a heritage from the LORD,
     the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows within the hand of a warrior
     are the kids of 1’s youth.
Blessed is the person
     who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to disgrace
     when he speaks along with his enemies within the gate. Read More

The Blessedness of Kids. Like the primary part, this doesn’t remove human exercise: youngsters are a heritage from the LORD, and due to this fact his reward, and but husband and spouse should do one thing in bringing the kids into the world and in elevating them to be trustworthy members of God’s folks. Right here the stress falls on the kids of 1’s youth, now grown up and standing with their father when he speaks along with his enemies within the gate (i.e., the place the place justice was administered, see notice on Ruth 4:1–2). It is going to be onerous for the enemies (who’re assumed to be untrue) to intimidate such a person.

8. Proverbs 17:6

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
     and the glory of kids is their fathers. Read More

Households rely upon each other for his or her id and pleasure. Each younger and outdated ought to cherish their intergenerational relationships.

9. 1 Timothy 5:8

But when anybody doesn’t present for his family members, and particularly for members of his family, he has denied the religion and is worse than an unbeliever. Read More

worse than an unbeliever. Provision for one’s circle of relatives is a non secular subject of utmost significance. Failure to stay out the gospel on this method is tantamount to a denial of the religion.

10. Matthew 12:46–50

Whereas he was nonetheless talking to the folks, behold, his mom and his brothers stood exterior, asking to talk to him. However he replied to the person who informed him, “Who’s my mom, and who’re my brothers?” And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he mentioned, “Listed here are my mom and my brothers! For whoever does the need of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mom.” Read More

Jesus’ Disciples Are His True Household. Jesus requires a brand new non secular household in relationship to him and his Father, united within the defining attribute of Jesus’ life and ministry: obedience to the need of the Father (Matt. 12:50).

Listed here are my mom and my brothers. Jesus’ messianic mission takes precedence even over familial loyalties. Fairly than negating the significance of 1’s organic household (cf. Matt. 15:3–9), Jesus is demonstrating the preeminence of an individual’s dedication to him and the dominion of heaven.

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