Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4
var fathers = new Fathers();
var children = new Children();
//! denotes NOT in this syntax
!fathers.Provoke(children, Emotion.Anger);
fathers.BringUp(children, Discipline<God>()));
fathers.BringUp(children, Instruction<God>());
Historically, fathers have had the authority and the primary responsibility to shape the lives of their children.
They are to be shapers of character and lives, and to bring their children up in the “fear of the Lord.”
Fathers are to be loving, patient, and wise in their guidance, ensuring that they do not provoke their children to anger through harshness or neglect.
Instead, they are called to nurture their children with discipline and instruction that reflects the teachings of the Bible (God’s Word).
If you are a Father, in what ways do you provoke your children to anger, whether that be intentional or unintentional? Consider your own actions and words, and how they may be affecting your children.
As we’ve seen earthly Fathers often fail to do this perfectly, hence Paul’s instruction to those believers in Ephesus, but also by extension, to all fathers in the church.
But the believer in the Lord Jesus has the strength given by the Holy Spirit to be able to do this.
Where God has been continually patient with us, we can be patient with our children.
Where God has been ever loving to and for us, we can be loving to and for our children.
That is not to say that non-believing fathers, should disobey this command, for they will still be accountable to God for how they treat their children and there will be earthly blessings to not provoking your children to anger.
And as Children look in dependence to their earthly fathers for love, sustainance and guidance in loving relationship, we are all to look to our Heavenly Father who has changed us and is shaping us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). If we are indeed, in him.