Raising Children in Righteousness

Sir 42:1

Never be ashamed to work righteousness, nor teach your children.

It takes experience learning your children and what works to help them grown in the right direction. This process requires humility for a parent because it take practice and mistakes will happen along the way as parents learn to raise their children in the nurture of the Lord. A believing parent isn't ashamed to embrace the process because believers come in humility willing to work at it, confessing their faults when they happen learning from the experiences, and in an honest and good heart, they bring forth fruits in themselves and their children with patience. Taking the time to raise children in the nurture of the Lord is kept in kindly remembrance before Alahayim:

Testament of Naphtali Chapter 8:5

5 As a man who has trained a child well is kept in kindly remembrance: So also for a good work there is a good remembrance before Alahayim.

The admonitions for parents, begin with the head of the household:

Eph 6:4

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

We are called to beseech our children in the meekness and gentleness of Christ {2 Cor 10:1} as he beseeches us as a father praying his son and a mother her daughter. { 2 Esdras 1:28} So our actions ought not to provoke our children to wrath. Rather, through words of righteousness repeated daily, our children can grow in the faith of the Lord by nurture and reproof with love.

Shepherd of Hermas vision 1

3:2 But the great mercy of the Lord had pity on thee and thy family, and will strengthen thee, and establish thee in His glory. Only be not thou careless, but take courage, and strengthen thy family. For as the smith hammering his work conquers the task which he wills, so also doth righteous discourse repeated daily conquer all evil. Cease not therefore to reprove thy children; for I know that if they shall repent with all their heart, they shall be written in the books of life with the saints."

The responsibility starts with the fathers to set the example for the family that he may teach his wife by his actions that she may learn to walk according to the faith setting an example herself as well. Then she can raise up their children in the instruction of the Lord as did Rachel and Leah build up the house of Israel. {Ruth4:12}. Together as one unit in agreement, the parents can guide their household unto righteousness.

The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians 2:6

And teach ourselves first to walk according to the commandments of Ahayah; and then your wives to walk likewise according to the faith that is given to them' in charity, and purity; loving their own husbands with all sincerity, and all others alike with all temperance; and to bring up their children in the instruction and fear of the Lord.

The type of instruction our children need are given in scripture:

1 Clem. 21:7

.....Let our children be partakers of the instruction which is in Christ:

1 Clem. 21:8

let them learn how lowliness of mind prevaileth with Alahayim, what power chaste love hath with Alahayim, how the fear of Him is good and great and saveth all them that walk therein in a pure mind with holiness.

1 Clem. 21:9

For He is the searcher out of the intents and desires; whose breath is in us, and when He listeth, He shall take it away.

1 Clem. 22:1

Now all these things the faith which is in Christ confirmeth: for He Himself through the Holy Spirit thus invite thus: Come, my children, hearken unto Me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

1 Clem. 22:2

What man is he that desireth life and loveth to see good days?

1 Clem. 22:3

Make thy tongue to cease from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile.

1 Clem. 22:4

Turn aside from evil and do good.

1 Clem. 22:5

Seek peace and ensue it.

It takes both parent working the fruits of the Spirit toward one another to set an example for the children:

Colossians 3:18-21

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

A man must bear the fruits of the Spirit towards his wife in her struggles as she grows.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

A wife must submit herself unto her husband in the fruits of the Spirit as he learns to lead by example submitting himself to the will of the Lord. The relationship of the parents working together in the fruits will set an example for the children.

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

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

A man has the growth opportunity of learning to be patient and long-suffering through his experience in his home with his wife, the weaker vessel, and his children who need nurture in the meekness and gentleness of Christ (2 Co 10:1) to be raised up in the faith. A man has to guard himself in meekness to speak rightly unto his children to avoid provoking them to anger:

Pro 15:1

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

A man has to be mindful to walk in the fear of the Lord bearing the fruits towards his children in his deeds and speech too, not only his wife because if he doesn't walk in the fear of the Lord his house will be overthrown:

Sir 27:3

Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.

AHAYAH is our example, showing mercy while chastening his children whom he loves. If we delight in our children, we must lead them in the right direction by example first, then with much encouragement, teaching, nurturing, comforting, and instructing with gentleness.

Pro 3:12

For whom AHAYAH loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth

Teach them to obey from the heart from their youth with instruction that they will retain the wisdom unto their adulthood.

Sir 7:23

Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.
Pro 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Sir 7:24

Hast thou daughters? have care of their body, and shew not thy self cheerful toward them.

This doesn't mean do not be cheerful towards your daughters at all because cheerfulness is a holy spirit. Its referring to when she sins or does something that isn't right, you shouldn't make light of it and laugh it off being cheerful like it's ok, lest she grow comfortable in folly not being properly nurtured. Upbraiding words is no profit to us or our children seeing as though we have to give them the example of the gentleness and meekness of Christ by humbly exhorting and encouraging them to walk in the ways of the Lord.

2Co 10:1

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

We are to be meek and gentle being base amongst our children, exhorting, comforting and charging them to walk worthily as a father ought to:

1Th 2:11

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
1Th 2:12

That ye would walk worthy of Alahayim, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

Sir 30:1

He that loveth his son, causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end.

Pro 13:24

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Pro 19:18

Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Pro 23:13

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

Pro 23:14

Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Through daily righteous discourse, exhortation, encouragement, we will have joy in the righteous fruit it will bear just as AHAYAH chastens us that we may bare fruits of righteousness unto him. Heb 12:6-12

Sir 30:2

He that chastiseth his son, shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance.

Sir 30:3

He that teacheth his son, grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he shall rejoice of him.

(Teaching them in meekness will grieve the enemy because the fruits of the Spirit are being planted in their soul. On the other hand, if we are abusive, yelling, scolding, and hasty of spirit toward them, we are only increasing iniquity provoking them to anger and leading our children closer to Satan by showing them the example of Satan. )

Sir 30:4

Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself.

Sir 30:5

While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died he was not sorrowful.
Sir 30:6

He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his

friends.

An example of chastisement of the household is given in Hermas from

the Angel of repentance.

Hermas vision 1

3:1

"Yet it is not for this that Alahayim is wroth with thee, but that thou mayest convert thy family, that hath done wrong against the Lord and against you their parents. But out of fondness for thy children thou didst not admonish thy family, but didst suffer it to become fearfully corrupt. Therefore the Lord is wroth with thee. But He will heal all thy past sins, which have been committed in thy family; for by reason of their sins and iniquities thou hast been corrupted by the affairs of this world.

3:2

But the great mercy of the Lord had pity on thee and thy family, and will strengthen thee, and establish thee in His glory. Only be not thou careless, but take courage, and strengthen thy family. For as the smith hammering his work conquers the task which he wills, so also doth righteous discourse repeated daily conquer all evil. Cease not therefore to reprove thy children; for I know that if they shall repent with all their heart, they shall be written in the books of life with the saints."

Hermas vision 2

3[7]:1 "But do thou, Hermas, no longer bear a grudge against thy children, neither suffer thy sister to have her way, so that they may be purified from their former sins. For they shall be chastised with a righteous chastisement, unless thou bear a grudge against them thyself. The bearing of a grudge worketh death. But thou, Hermas, hast had great tribulations of thine own, by reason of the transgressions of thy family, because thou hadst no care for them. For thou wast neglectful of them, and wast mixed up with thine evil transactions.

(In order to raise children right, one cannot be bitter or grudging against them, but one must be loving and sincere towards them with constant words of righteousness, which is the righteous chastisement.)

3[7]:2 But herein is thy salvation, in that thou didst not depart from the living Alahayim, and in thy simplicity and thy great continence. These have saved thee, if thou abidest therein; and they save all who do such things, and walk in guilelessness and simplicity. These men prevail over all wickedness, and continue unto life eternal.
3[7]:3 Blessed are all they that work righteousness. They shall never be destroyed

Teach children the commands diligently as we are commanded

Deu 4:9

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes

have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Deu 4:10

Specially the day that thou stoodest before AHAYAH thy Alahayim in Horeb, when AHAYAH said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Deu 6:6

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deu 6:7

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in

thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

(In the law we get an example of words of righteousness being spoken daily)

Example of a Father teaching his sons

4Ma 18:9

And these my children, having arrived at maturity, their father died: blessed was he! for having sought out a life of fertility in children, he was not grieved with a period of loss of children.

4Ma 18:10

And he used to teach you, when yet with you, the law and the prophets.
4Ma 18:11

He used to read to you the slaying of Abel by Cain, and the offering up of Isaac, and the imprisonment of Joseph.

4Ma 18:12

And he used to tell you of the zealous Phinehas; and informed you of Ananias and Azarias, and Misael in the fire.

4Ma 18:13

And he used to glorify Daniel, who was in the den of lions, and pronounce him blessed.
4Ma 18:14

And he used to put you in mind of the scripture of Esaias, which says, Even if you pass through

the fire, it shall not burn you.
4Ma 18:15

He chanted to you David, the hymn-writer, who says, Many are the afflictions of the just.
4Ma 18:16

He declared the proverbs of Solomon, who says, He is a tree of life to all those who do His will.

4Ma 18:17

He used to verify Ezekiel, who said, Shall these dry bones live?
4Ma 18:18

For he didn’t forget the song which Moses taught, proclaiming, I will kill, and I will make to live.

4Ma 18:19

This is our life, and the length of our days.

Example of the results of a Mother rearing her children

in righteousness

4Ma 13:19

You are not ignorant of the love of brethren, whereof the divine and all-wise Providence has given an inheritance to those who are begotten though their fathers, implanting it in them even through the mother's womb;

4Ma 13:20

wherein brethren do dwell the like period, and take their form during the same time, and are nourished from the same blood, and are quickened with the same soul,

4Ma 13:21

and are brought into the world after the same space, and they draw milk from the same founts, whereby their fraternal souls are nursed together in arms at the breast

4Ma 13:22

and they are knit yet closer through a common nurture and daily companionship and other education, and through our discipline under the Law of Alahayim

4Ma 13:23

The feeling of brotherly love being thus naturally strong, the seven brethren had their mutual concord made yet stronger.

4Ma 13:24

For trained in the same Law, and disciplined in the same virtues, and

4Ma 13:25

brought up together in the upright life, they loved one another the more abundantly.

Parental Neglect Exhortations

Children are attacked by youthful lust from a young age and they need parents to guide them in the right way to go so that they won't depart when older. Parental neglect in nurturing children in the fear of the Lord stains the family nobility:

Sir 22:10

But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.

Pro 20:11

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Pro 22:15

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

(Correct their behavior by setting an example and reproof with love from their youth to deliver them from the struggles of heart that they are struggling with in their childhood

Sir 30:11

Give him no liberty in his youth, and wink not at his follies.

Children need structure in their youth so they can know the right way in which they should go. Emotions cloud our judgment to slack in teaching our children, but through temperance in remembering the end goal of saving their soul as Ahayah commanded, we can overcome those emotions to do what is right in the sight of Alahayim.

Sir 30:7

He that maketh too much of his son, shall bind up his wounds, and his bowels will be troubled at every cry.

( a person who makes too much of their child is similar to one who puts a their child on a pedestol as if the child can do no wrong.)

Sir 30:8

An horse not broken becommeth headstrong: and a child left to himself will be willful.

(we are exhorted to teach our children the fear of Ahayah by speaking life into them, lest they become headstrong by willful behavior because we left them to themselves not reproving them because we made too much of them.)

Pro 29:15

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

(It will hurt a mother as well if she make too much of her son leaving him to himself instead of giving him reproof in love and the rod when its called for.)

Sir 30:9

Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness.

cocker: to pamper or spoil by indulgence. It is not wise to play with a child when they do things that aren't right just like its not wise to be cheerful when our daughters do the wrong thing {Sir 7:24} because making light of the wrong behavior will cause them to grow stubborn and willful from being left to themselves.{Sir 30:7-9}

Sir 30:10

Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end.

(If we do not raise our children right by overlooking their bad behavior, we will sorrow in our life, and gnash our teeth on judgment day because we will perish for not raising them in the ways of Alahayim.)

Sir 30:12

Bow down his neck while he is young, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient unto thee, and so bring sorrow to thine heart.

Teach him to be humble while he is young lest stubbornness get an advantage over him.

Sir 42:1

Never be ashamed to work righteousness, nor teach your children.

30:13

Chastise thy son, and hold him to labor, lest his lewd behavior be an offence unto thee.

Sir 26:10

If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straightly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty

A father cares for his daughter and is concerned

for the following

Sir 42:9

The father waketh for the daughter when no man knoweth, and the care for her taketh away sleep; when she is young lest she pass away the flower of her age, and being married, lest she should be hated:

Sir 42:10

In her virginity lest she should be defiled, and gotten with child in her fathers house; and having an husband, lest she should misbehave herself: and when she is married, lest she should be barren.

Sir 26:10

If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straightly: lest she abuse her self through overmuch liberty.

Sir 26:11

Watch over an impudent eye: and marvel not, if she trespass against thee.
Sir 26:12

She will open her mouth as a thirsty traveler, when he hath found a fountain: and drink of every

water near her: by every hedge will she sit down, and open her quiver against every arrow.