What are the bible proverbs about obedience? Find out in this article with commentary on each verse.
Introduction
Obedience is submission to authority or command. God does not force submission. Christians submit out of reverence and love. This is the correct way to obey without being forced. Obedience also means to trust. How can you obey someone you do not trust? We obey our parents because we trust their leadership and guidance. We obey them because we love them. If there is no love or trust. It is impossible to obey unless forced.
7 Bible proverbs about obedience
Proverbs 1:8
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Simply put, children should obey their mother and father. This verse is hinting to something more than just obedience. It’s an instruction to respect and honor your parents. The Bible does not say birth parents, so your stepparents, adoptive parents, or a guardian who is raising you deserve respect. Parents are naturally given authority over a family by God. However in the absence of parents (due to unforeseen or uncontrollable circumstances), a guardian takes the place of the parents. We are to honor those who are in the position to parent us, obey them and follow their instructions.
Proverbs 2:8
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
The faithful ones refer to those who are obedient to God. So God guards the direction and lives of Christians. He also protects the obedient ones. If you are an obedient child of God, you can be assured of a clear path to life guided by God. Jesus is the ultimate example of obedience. He obeyed his father unto death. Whilst on earth, He followed His father’s commandments and did his will perfectly. As humans we are not expected to be in perfect obeisance like Jesus, but we can follow Him and learn how to obey God.
Proverbs 4:5
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
This is one of the best proverbs on obedience and wisdom. The wisdom that the verse refers to is the kind that is passed down to others. David passed down wisdom to his son Solomon, and Solomon wrote most of the proverbs passing down wisdom to generations. Acquiring wisdom is a priority but so is obedience. Obedience is an ongoing process. You constantly have to stay obedient, not forgetting the instructions God or your parents gave you.
Proverbs 4:10
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
The reward for obeying your parents is a long blessed life. The sayings that are being referred to are wise godly sayings. There is life in the wisdom of God. The wages of sin is death. Godly wisdom keeps one away from the traps of sin. Therefore you will live a peaceful longer life.
Proverbs 6:20-21Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
The book of Proverbs keeps on hammering on the idea that children should obey their parents. This tells us that this is a very important principle that should never be overlooked or ignored. The child should have the same respect that he has for his father to his mother also. Parents are to have the same respect and honor. You cannot love one parent more than the other.
Proverbs 10:17
He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
One who heeds discipline is one who listens and obeys. Obedience to God is pure proof of a man’s wisdom. To humbly obey God’s instructions is the only way to a good fulfilling life. A life that is directed and blessed by God.Â
Proverbs 23:22
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Another proverb reiterating honoring and obeying parents. These are God ordained parents that should be honored. Parents that pass on the wisdom of God to their children. Listening to godly parents is like listening to the wisdom of God himself. With so much experience of life, they are fountains of wisdom. The basic standard of a family is a father, mother and children. The father and mother nurture and guide the children with godly principles. The children in turn obey and follow the instructions of the parents. When this standard is not followed, chaos comes and we have rebellious children whose lives are shortened because they failed to heed the instructions of their parents.
Conclusion
The book of proverbs uses the simile of a family to bring out the importance of family. Children obey your earthly parents. But the calling to obey goes beyond the earth. As children of God. we are called to live a life of obeying God and following His instructions.
