Pro 1:8-9 | KingComments | STEP | The first teaching a human being receives is from his father and mother. It is also the first relationship in which a man is placed and in which he learns that he is subject to authority. God’s authority is expressed in this book not so much in the giving of precepts, but in the relationships He has established between people and in particular those of parents and children. Whoever submits to his parents as a child submits to the order that God has established. The father addresses the word to his son ( ). Here is not the classroom teacher speaking to his students. Here we are listening to the advice of a father to his son who also involves his mother ( ). The book of Proverbs is the parenting book par excellence. Parents will find in it everything necessary for the education of their children. determines us that the teaching of wisdom is given above all in the family context. If we are parents, we have a great commission to instruct our children in wisdom. The teaching of this book forms their character as Christians ( ; ). We can thank God for it if we have had a parental home where He was reckoned with in all things of life. The father addresses his son directly. The book of Proverbs is a textbook with teaching from a father to his son. The atmosphere in which the teaching takes place is the father-son relationship. It is an atmosphere of love, confidentiality, involvement and safety. In application, this means that the proverbs in this book are meant for those who live in an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Wisdom in Person. The proverbs of this book can also be understood only by them. By addressing his son as “my son”, the father underscores the close relationship he has with him. From this automatically flows the direct responsibility to admonish his son. He commands his son to listen to the “instruction”. Instruction is a broad term. It includes teaching and training and, if necessary, discipline in the sense of physical chastisement. The purpose of the father’s instruction is to persuade his son to listen to the instruction, that is, to heed it by obeying it. Listening is actively listening in the awareness of being addressed directly and personally, while the willingness is present to do what is said. They are the instructions “of your father”. By this the father lets the son know that he is important to him. A father does not “lecture’, but speaks from a relationship of love. A true father knows that he is a father and will let his children experience that. He is deeply involved in their spiritual development and will do everything to help them always make the right choices, so that their development does not stagnate or even go wrong. The involvement of “your mother” in her son’s spiritual development is in “the teaching” she gives him. She does this with her words and example rather than instruction. Instruction is primarily connected with the father’s contribution in parenting ( ). The son is in danger of neglecting his mother’s teaching. Hence this appeal from his father. The mother’s teaching involves pointing him in the right direction. She teaches him to live his life in an orderly manner. There is something to be learned from the fact and manner in which the father involves his wife in parenting. It is important for a husband to encourage and support his wife’s input. Husband and wife should be unified in their parenting and not attack each other, especially in the presence of the children. Children sense unerringly when there is a difference between father and mother. They know how to exploit this difference when the occasion arises. If a son listens to instruction and teaching, it will adorn his life, making it attractive ( ). A wreath to the head and ornaments about the neck indicate dignity. There is talk here of “a graceful wreath”. There is loveliness radiating from one who has accepted instruction and teaching from his father and mother. Obedient children are attractive and command respect. High dignitaries wear a golden chain around their neck as an ornament ( ; ). This is how they are seen who accept discipline and teaching. If we are “adorned” with the teaching, we show the truth of God’s wisdom in our words and our life (cf. ). If we are adorned with wisdom, the sharp edges of our behavior will disappear and we become more pleasant to others in dealing with them. We also present a clearer picture of life as a Christian because we show more of the Lord Jesus. What we read of the father and mother in this verse can also be applied to those who are fathers and mothers in the church in a spiritual sense. They have a special concern for young believers to help them to go their way with the Lord. Paul was as a father and a mother to the new believers in Thessalonica ( ). Both parents and elders in the church represent a Father in heaven Who teaches us. He does so through His Son: “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” ( ).

‏ Proverbs 1:8-9

Hearing Will Be Rewarded

The first teaching a human being receives is from his father and mother. It is also the first relationship in which a man is placed and in which he learns that he is subject to authority. God’s authority is expressed in this book not so much in the giving of precepts, but in the relationships He has established between people and in particular those of parents and children. Whoever submits to his parents as a child submits to the order that God has established.

The father addresses the word to his son (Pro 1:8). Here is not the classroom teacher speaking to his students. Here we are listening to the advice of a father to his son who also involves his mother (Pro 6:20 ; Pro 10:1). The book of Proverbs is the parenting book par excellence. Parents will find in it everything necessary for the education of their children.

Pro 1:8 determines us that the teaching of wisdom is given above all in the family context. If we are parents, we have a great commission to instruct our children in wisdom. The teaching of this book forms their character as Christians (Pro 4:3-4; Deu 6:7). We can thank God for it if we have had a parental home where He was reckoned with in all things of life.

The father addresses his son directly. The book of Proverbs is a textbook with teaching from a father to his son. The atmosphere in which the teaching takes place is the father-son relationship. It is an atmosphere of love, confidentiality, involvement and safety. In application, this means that the proverbs in this book are meant for those who live in an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Wisdom in Person. The proverbs of this book can also be understood only by them.

By addressing his son as “my son”, the father underscores the close relationship he has with him. From this automatically flows the direct responsibility to admonish his son. He commands his son to listen to the “instruction”. Instruction is a broad term. It includes teaching and training and, if necessary, discipline in the sense of physical chastisement. The purpose of the father’s instruction is to persuade his son to listen to the instruction, that is, to heed it by obeying it. Listening is actively listening in the awareness of being addressed directly and personally, while the willingness is present to do what is said.

They are the instructions “of your father”. By this the father lets the son know that he is important to him. A father does not “lecture’, but speaks from a relationship of love. A true father knows that he is a father and will let his children experience that. He is deeply involved in their spiritual development and will do everything to help them always make the right choices, so that their development does not stagnate or even go wrong.

The involvement of “your mother” in her son’s spiritual development is in “the teaching” she gives him. She does this with her words and example rather than instruction. Instruction is primarily connected with the father’s contribution in parenting (Eph 6:4). The son is in danger of neglecting his mother’s teaching. Hence this appeal from his father. The mother’s teaching involves pointing him in the right direction. She teaches him to live his life in an orderly manner.

There is something to be learned from the fact and manner in which the father involves his wife in parenting. It is important for a husband to encourage and support his wife’s input. Husband and wife should be unified in their parenting and not attack each other, especially in the presence of the children. Children sense unerringly when there is a difference between father and mother. They know how to exploit this difference when the occasion arises.

If a son listens to instruction and teaching, it will adorn his life, making it attractive (Pro 1:9). A wreath to the head and ornaments about the neck indicate dignity. There is talk here of “a graceful wreath”. There is loveliness radiating from one who has accepted instruction and teaching from his father and mother. Obedient children are attractive and command respect. High dignitaries wear a golden chain around their neck as an ornament (Gen 41:42; Dan 5:29). This is how they are seen who accept discipline and teaching.

If we are “adorned” with the teaching, we show the truth of God’s wisdom in our words and our life (cf. Tit 2:9-10). If we are adorned with wisdom, the sharp edges of our behavior will disappear and we become more pleasant to others in dealing with them. We also present a clearer picture of life as a Christian because we show more of the Lord Jesus.

What we read of the father and mother in this verse can also be applied to those who are fathers and mothers in the church in a spiritual sense. They have a special concern for young believers to help them to go their way with the Lord. Paul was as a father and a mother to the new believers in Thessalonica (1Thes 2:7 ; 11). Both parents and elders in the church represent a Father in heaven Who teaches us. He does so through His Son: “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” (Lk 9:35).