When it comes to treating parents, Chinese people stress about being filial, thinking that being agreeable to what they want is dutiful. However, that is not the Biblical way. The word "filial piety" is nowhere in the Bible. Instead, "honor" appears in several verses. To honor your parents is wise.
Here are eight Bible passages on how to treat your parents:
Exodus 20:12 ""Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."
Matthew 19:16-19 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments."
"Which ones?" he inquired.
Jesus replied, "'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise- "so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Proverbs 23:22-25
Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy the truth and do not sell it-
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Proverbs 20:20 If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
Matthew 10:37-39 "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."
Mark 10:29-30 "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-along with persecutions-and in the age to come eternal life."
Matthew 12:46-50 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."
He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
- Translated by Karen Luo
