“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”
My Notes
What Does Colossians 3:20 Mean?
"Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." Paul addresses children directly — they're part of the congregation, part of the audience, part of the church. The instruction is straightforward: obey your parents in everything. The motivation is theological: it pleases the Lord.
The phrase "in all things" (kata panta) is comprehensive but must be read in context: the "all things" is qualified by the larger theological framework. A child isn't obligated to obey a parent who commands something sinful. The "all things" describes the scope of normal parental authority, not an absolute override of moral law.
The motivation — "well pleasing unto the Lord" (euareston to kyrio) — connects family behavior to divine pleasure. How children treat their parents matters to God. The home is a worship space. Obedience to parents is a form of obedience to God. The family relationship isn't separate from the spiritual life; it's part of it.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does viewing family obedience as worship change the way you approach it?
- 2.What does 'in all things' practically mean — and where are its limits?
- 3.How does learning to obey parents prepare you for learning to obey God?
- 4.What does it mean to you that how you treat your parents pleases or displeases God?
Devotional
Children: obey your parents in everything. It pleases God. The instruction is direct, the scope is comprehensive, and the reason is theological: how you treat your parents is how you relate to God.
Paul addresses children as full members of the congregation — not as a separate audience who get their own service. Children are in the room. They're hearing the letter read. They're included in the community's worship and instruction. And they're addressed directly: this is for you. Obey your parents.
The 'in all things' is both liberating and challenging. Liberating because it simplifies: you don't need to evaluate each parental instruction independently. The default is obedience. Challenging because the default is comprehensive: not 'in the things that seem reasonable' or 'in the things you agree with.' In all things.
The God-pleasing motivation elevates family obedience from mere household management to worship. When a child obeys a parent, God is pleased. Not just the parent — God. The family dynamic has a divine audience. The household behavior has a heavenly witness. How you respond to your parents' authority matters to the Lord of the universe.
This means the home is a training ground for every other form of submission: learning to obey parents prepares you for learning to obey God. The child who respects parental authority is developing the muscle that will later respect divine authority. The family is the gym where obedience is practiced.
What does your family obedience teach your soul about God-obedience?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Children, obey your parents,.... Both father and mother; See Gill on Eph 6:1.
in all things; not in things sinful,…
Children, obey your parents ... - Notes, Eph 6:1-4.
Children, obey - in all things - That is, in the Lord - in every thing that your parents command you, which is not…
The apostle concludes the chapter with exhortations to relative duties, as before in the epistle to the Ephesians. The…
Children Cp. Eph 6:1-3.
obey The same word as that below, Col 3:22. The wife "submits herself" as to a guiding friend;…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture