What does it mean to "forsake not your mother's teaching" in Proverbs 6:20? Key Verse Proverbs 6:20: “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Understanding “Forsake Not” • “To forsake” means to abandon, neglect, or walk away from something binding and precious. • Solomon urges his “son” (and every reader) never to treat a godly mother’s instruction as optional or outdated. • Her teaching (“torah” in Hebrew) carries enduring authority because it aligns with God’s own Word. The Biblical Weight of a Mother’s Teaching • Deuteronomy 6:6-7 — Mothers helped impress God’s commands on children “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.” • Proverbs 1:8-9 — A mother’s teaching is “a garland of grace” and a “chain to adorn your neck.” • 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15 — Timothy’s sincere faith sprang from the instruction of his mother and grandmother. • Proverbs 31:26 — The virtuous woman “opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Why We Dare Not Abandon Her Wisdom • It is rooted in covenant truth, not personal opinion. • It equips children to resist sexual temptation (Proverbs 6:24-29) and every snare of the wicked (Proverbs 6:32). • It carries a promise of long life and blessing (Ephesians 6:1-3; cf. Exodus 20:12). • To forsake her teaching is ultimately to disregard God’s own counsel delivered through her. Practical Ways to Honor Her Teaching • Remember it—commit key Scriptures and lessons to heart. • Respect it—speak well of her wisdom in private and public. • Apply it—let her counsel guide choices about friends, purity, work, and worship. • Transmit it—pass the same truths to the next generation (Psalm 78:4-7). • Thank her—express gratitude for every faithful correction and encouragement. Application for Every Stage of Life • Childhood: Obey immediately and cheerfully (Colossians 3:20). • Youth: Seek her advice before decisions about dating, schooling, or vocation. • Adulthood: Consult her, provide for her (1 Timothy 5:4), and model her teaching to your own children. • Old Age: Celebrate her legacy, keep living out her instruction, and encourage the young to do likewise. A Last Encouragement Holding fast to a mother’s godly teaching is not sentimental nostalgia; it is obedience to the Lord who entrusted that teaching to her for your protection, growth, and eternal good. |
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