Pro 19:20 | KingComments | STEP | Teaching obedience is a command ( ). It is at the same time a powerful warning against parental passivity. There is a time to teach children obedience. That time begins as soon as it is clear that a child is acquiring a sense of right and wrong, and that is the case from an early age. When it is clear that a child is not listening to a command from the parents, the child must learn to obey ( ). This can take a lot of patience. It can sometimes get so bad that a parent loses patience and even his mind. Hence the warning not to let the thought arise of desiring to kill him or making decisions that would result in his death. “Do not desire his death”, can mean to discipline him so much that he dies. Another meaning is also possible. Which is not to discipline him at all, so that he becomes a fool, goes on the bad path and, because of his bad behavior, finds death. He who does not discipline his child kills him, because then he continues to follow the path that leads to death. Withholding his punishment from him now will put him on the path to a much more severe and eternal punishment. Indulgence works his downfall. False indulgence is real cruelty. Eli did not teach his sons obedience. As a result, they became fools and succumbed to their folly ( ). Similarly, David did not rebuke his son Adonijah, causing him to become a fool and die an untimely death ( ). There are cases where it no longer makes sense to teach someone obedience ( ). All hope of correction must be given up. This is the case when someone is so angry that he is out of control. Someone who cannot be appeased must experience the consequences of his folly for himself. Whoever wants to help him will never get rid of him, because he will never learn his lesson. A hot-tempered person will constantly be in trouble. Only repentance and the Holy Spirit can give a change. Christ is the Only One who can save from such behavior. The Son makes free ( ). links to the two previous verses. By listening to “counsel” and accepting “discipline”, a person “may be wise”. There will be maturity through all the discipline that has been exercised and all the teaching that has been given. Then there will be steadfast perseverance on the path of life the rest of his days.

‏ Proverbs 19:20

Discipline and Accept Discipline

Teaching obedience is a command (Pro 19:18). It is at the same time a powerful warning against parental passivity. There is a time to teach children obedience. That time begins as soon as it is clear that a child is acquiring a sense of right and wrong, and that is the case from an early age.

When it is clear that a child is not listening to a command from the parents, the child must learn to obey (Gen 18:19). This can take a lot of patience. It can sometimes get so bad that a parent loses patience and even his mind. Hence the warning not to let the thought arise of desiring to kill him or making decisions that would result in his death.

“Do not desire his death”, can mean to discipline him so much that he dies. Another meaning is also possible. Which is not to discipline him at all, so that he becomes a fool, goes on the bad path and, because of his bad behavior, finds death. He who does not discipline his child kills him, because then he continues to follow the path that leads to death. Withholding his punishment from him now will put him on the path to a much more severe and eternal punishment. Indulgence works his downfall. False indulgence is real cruelty.

Eli did not teach his sons obedience. As a result, they became fools and succumbed to their folly (1Sam 3:12-13). Similarly, David did not rebuke his son Adonijah, causing him to become a fool and die an untimely death (1Kgs 1:6 ; 1Kgs 2:24).

There are cases where it no longer makes sense to teach someone obedience (Pro 19:19). All hope of correction must be given up. This is the case when someone is so angry that he is out of control. Someone who cannot be appeased must experience the consequences of his folly for himself. Whoever wants to help him will never get rid of him, because he will never learn his lesson.

A hot-tempered person will constantly be in trouble. Only repentance and the Holy Spirit can give a change. Christ is the Only One who can save from such behavior. The Son makes free (Jn 8:36).

Pro 19:20 links to the two previous verses. By listening to “counsel” and accepting “discipline”, a person “may be wise”. There will be maturity through all the discipline that has been exercised and all the teaching that has been given. Then there will be steadfast perseverance on the path of life the rest of his days.