He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
To hold back needed correction is to hate the child, while to love him is to correct, train, and restrain him promptly and for his own good. To chasten betimes means to begin very early, while children are very young, since even infants of eight to ten months can grasp what correction means and stubbornness can be subdued before it takes deep root. If stubbornness, evil tempers, and waywardness are cherished instead of corrected and children are left to follow their own way, those traits only grow stronger as they grow. The rod is a possible means to bring a rebellious child to his senses when counsel and milder measures have failed, and it may sometimes be necessary, but it is to be avoided if possible. Such correction must never be given in anger or passion or to assert arbitrary authority, but firmly and kindly, with tenderness, love, and sorrow, joined with effort to help the child see his fault and with prayer for forgiveness, so that he learns obedience from principle, repents, and is drawn closer to his parents and to God.
Love Requires Early Correction
To spare needed correction is to hate the child, and to love him is to correct, train, and restrain him promptly and for his own good, not withholding needed discipline. To chasten betimes means to begin this correction and training very early, while children are very young, when stubbornness can still be subdued before it becomes deeply rooted. Even infants eight to ten months old can understand what correction means.
If parents cherish rather than correct stubbornness, evil tempers, and waywardness, and let children follow their own way unchecked and indulge those traits without correction, those traits are nurtured and grow stronger as the children grow. Failing to correct children in this way neglects parental duty and leaves parents accountable for failing to guide the children entrusted to them. Excusing children in sin instead of correcting and restraining them to turn them from sin and promote what is good brings God's displeasure.
Correcting With Tender Wisdom
The rod can bring a rebellious child to his senses and teach that obedience is required, and it may at times become necessary when counsel and milder measures have failed, yet it is to be avoided if possible. Physical punishment should come only after other means have been tried, and loving punishment when gentler measures fail is for the child's own good. Correction administered in love is not to satisfy the parent or to assert arbitrary authority.
Physical punishment must never be given in anger or passion, for punishment delivered in anger only adds wrongdoing instead of correcting it. The parent should first bring his own will under God's control, and then discipline firmly and kindly. When punishment is necessary, the parent should show sorrow for the child's pain. Correction is to be given with tenderness and love, not hastily or harshly, and such loving discipline helps teach children to serve God. Its aim is to draw the child closer to the parents and to God.
Discipline should be preceded by efforts to help children recognize their faults, and should be joined with prayer with the child for forgiveness. It is meant to turn the child from sin and promote what is good, leading the child to repentance and to desire to please. Such correction may make further physical punishment unnecessary. Excusing children in sin instead of thus correcting and restraining them brings God's displeasure, while parental care and restraint can bless children though it does not make them free from faults.
Judicious early correction should teach obedience from principle rather than compulsion. It should help the child understand that wrongdoing left uncorrected brings unhappiness and displeases God. Loving correction also includes allowing children who resist instruction and neglect their responsibilities to face the results of their choices and learn through experience, instead of repeatedly rescuing them from the difficulties their own conduct brings. The same principle supports restraining and chastening a rebellious person who is ruining himself, to turn him from his downward course.
To hold back needed correction is to hate the child, while to love him is to correct, train, and restrain him promptly and for his own good. To chasten betimes means to begin very early, while children are very young, since even infants of eight to ten months can grasp what correction means and stubbornness can be subdued before it takes deep root. If stubbornness, evil tempers, and waywardness are cherished instead of corrected and children are left to follow their own way, those traits only grow stronger as they grow. The rod is a possible means to bring a rebellious child to his senses when counsel and milder measures have failed, and it may sometimes be necessary, but it is to be avoided if possible. Such correction must never be given in anger or passion or to assert arbitrary authority, but firmly and kindly, with tenderness, love, and sorrow, joined with effort to help the child see his fault and with prayer for forgiveness, so that he learns obedience from principle, repents, and is drawn closer to his parents and to God.
Love Requires Early Correction
To spare needed correction is to hate the child, and to love him is to correct, train, and restrain him promptly and for his own good, not withholding needed discipline. To chasten betimes means to begin this correction and training very early, while children are very young, when stubbornness can still be subdued before it becomes deeply rooted. Even infants eight to ten months old can understand what correction means.
If parents cherish rather than correct stubbornness, evil tempers, and waywardness, and let children follow their own way unchecked and indulge those traits without correction, those traits are nurtured and grow stronger as the children grow. Failing to correct children in this way neglects parental duty and leaves parents accountable for failing to guide the children entrusted to them. Excusing children in sin instead of correcting and restraining them to turn them from sin and promote what is good brings God's displeasure.
Correcting With Tender Wisdom
The rod can bring a rebellious child to his senses and teach that obedience is required, and it may at times become necessary when counsel and milder measures have failed, yet it is to be avoided if possible. Physical punishment should come only after other means have been tried, and loving punishment when gentler measures fail is for the child's own good. Correction administered in love is not to satisfy the parent or to assert arbitrary authority.
Physical punishment must never be given in anger or passion, for punishment delivered in anger only adds wrongdoing instead of correcting it. The parent should first bring his own will under God's control, and then discipline firmly and kindly. When punishment is necessary, the parent should show sorrow for the child's pain. Correction is to be given with tenderness and love, not hastily or harshly, and such loving discipline helps teach children to serve God. Its aim is to draw the child closer to the parents and to God.
Discipline should be preceded by efforts to help children recognize their faults, and should be joined with prayer with the child for forgiveness. It is meant to turn the child from sin and promote what is good, leading the child to repentance and to desire to please. Such correction may make further physical punishment unnecessary. Excusing children in sin instead of thus correcting and restraining them brings God's displeasure, while parental care and restraint can bless children though it does not make them free from faults.
Judicious early correction should teach obedience from principle rather than compulsion. It should help the child understand that wrongdoing left uncorrected brings unhappiness and displeases God. Loving correction also includes allowing children who resist instruction and neglect their responsibilities to face the results of their choices and learn through experience, instead of repeatedly rescuing them from the difficulties their own conduct brings. The same principle supports restraining and chastening a rebellious person who is ruining himself, to turn him from his downward course.