Colossians 3:20 — Well-Pleasing in the Lord

20 Children, be obeying your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing in the Lord.

After addressing the relationship between husband and wife, Paul turns to the children. For them too, the will of the Lord is simple and clear. They are called to obey their parents. Note the plural. Father and mother together bear responsibility for their children. It is therefore only natural that children heed what their parents say.

The Greek word for “obey” consists of the words “under” and “hear.” A child recognizes the position of his parents above him and listens to what they say. This, Paul says, is “well pleasing in the Lord.” This also implies that the authority of the parents is derived from the Lord Himself.

The Lord does not make it difficult for children. They do not have to continually search for His will themselves. He points it out to them very simply through their parents. Quite simply: listen to your father and mother. The Lord asks nothing more of children. In this way, the exhortation of verse 17 also takes concrete shape for children. Where gratitude forms the keynote of family life, obedience to parents is not a matter of continual struggle but a matter of course.

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