What role does parental teaching play in Deuteronomy 6:21's message? The Verse Itself—What Does It Say? “ ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.’ ” (Deuteronomy 6:21) The Immediate Setting • Deuteronomy 6 opens with the Shema (vv. 4–5) and the command to “teach them diligently to your children” (v. 7). • Verse 21 zooms in on the content of that teaching: the story of redemption from bondage. • Parents are addressed directly—Moses assumes that every home will become a teaching center. Why God Centers Teaching in the Home • Continuity of faith: Truth is transmitted most naturally from parent to child. • Relational credibility: Children trust the voices that love and nurture them daily. • Daily reinforcement: Home life offers countless touchpoints—meals, work, travel—to repeat the story (v. 7). • Covenant identity: By recounting the Exodus, parents anchor children in a shared history with God. Key Elements Parents Are to Communicate 1. Our past condition—“We were slaves…” 2. God’s powerful intervention—“the LORD brought us out…” 3. The personal nature of redemption—“We” were rescued; it’s our family story. 4. The obligation to respond in love and obedience (vv. 24–25). Scriptures Echoing the Same Pattern • Exodus 12:24–27—parents explain the Passover to the next generation. • Joshua 4:6–7—stone memorial prompts parents to tell of Jordan River crossing. • Psalm 78:5–7—fathers commanded to make God’s works known “so that a generation yet to come would know them.” • Proverbs 22:6—train a child in the way he should go. • Ephesians 6:4—fathers nurture children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” • 2 Timothy 1:5—faith passed from grandmother to mother to son. Practical Takeaways for Families Today • Tell the redemption story often—share how Christ delivered us from sin just as Israel was delivered from Egypt (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Make teaching conversational—answer questions that arise naturally, as Moses anticipates in Deuteronomy 6:20. • Use family history—connect God’s faithfulness in Scripture to His faithfulness in your own story. • Integrate Scripture into routines—mealtimes, bedtime, travel (v. 7). • Model obedience—children learn as much from seeing parental faith in action as from hearing words (James 1:22). The Lasting Impact When parents faithfully recount God’s mighty acts, children gain a living memory of redemption, a clear identity as God’s people, and a compelling reason to love and obey Him for generations to come. |
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