Elements of Wisdom - Filial Respect and Responsibilities

"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:" (Pro. 1:8)

"My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:" (Pro. 6:20)

"Hearken unto thy father that begot thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old." (Pro. 23:22)

Based on these verses we can say that sons (and daughters for that matter) must be taught to honor his/her parents. Parents are to be instruments of instructions to train their children in the way he should go. We must teach them the importance of honoring their parents. In honoring our parents, we honor God. Pro. 1:8 immediately follows the fear of the LORD (v.7), thus we see that parental relationships are a priority within God's economy. Even the 10 Commandments places the honoring of father and mother immediately after man's responsibilities towards God. Proverbs has some pretty harsh statements about parental disrespect:

"He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach." (Pro. 19:26)

"Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer." (Pro. 28:24)

"There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother." (Pro. 30:11)

"The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." (Pro. 30:17)

There are such things as 'hard cases.' But those cases are really the exemption to the rule. And I would say that even in hard cases, it is not impossible for children to sincerely honor their mom and/or dad. For the most part children advance because their parents exert their best efforts in raising them. Just as there is very little fear of God in our society today, the same is true with filial relationships. In some regards parents stand in the stead of God, especially the father of the home. Children must be taught the proper respect of parents because in doing so they are taught the proper view of God and His authority. A child who has little to no respect for his parents, will have little to no respect for any authority figure, even God Himself. And although God could save anyone, He will not save a rebel.