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I. WHY YOU SHOULD OBEY.

1. Because it is your duty.

(1) God commands it, and He is so good that we ought to obey Him, and so great that He will not allow disobedience to go unpunished.

(2) Your parents command it, to whom you owe your all of earthly happiness.

2. Because it is your interest. Neither God nor your parents would wish it if it were not for your good.

(1) It will secure for you God's blessing, whereas disobedience will bring down His curse. Remember Hophni and Phinehas, and Absalom.

(2) It will make you cheerful and happy in your minds, whereas disobedience makes you sullen and disagreeable to yourselves as well as others.

(3) It promotes your daily improvement. Disobey, and your evil dispositions will become daily more tyrannical.

(4) It makes others love you: but no one likes a disobedient child.

(5) It is most favourable to conversion, but the contrary almost precludes the hope of it.

3. Because you have the perfect pattern of our Lord to urge you to obey.

II. HOW YOU SHOULD OBEY.

1. Religiously. With a regard to what pleases God, and not what pleases self or parents so much.

2. Heartily and sincerely, as opposed to that hypocritical obedience which some children yield when their parents are in sight, because they are afraid of the consequences.

3. Completely. It is of no use for children to obey in some things and disobey in others; to do half what their parents command, and leave half undone.

4. Instantly, without waiting to ask the reason, or promising to obey at some future time.

5. Cheerfully. There is an obedience of the hand, but a disobedience of the heart.

6. Always. Not simply till you go to business, or are of age, or married. "Despise not thy mother when she is old."

(B. W. Noel, M. A.)

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KJV: Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

WEB: Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.