What role do parents play in upholding truth according to Zechariah 13:3? Setting the scene Zechariah 13 pictures a coming day when the LORD cleanses His people from idolatry and deceit. False prophecy—speaking lies in God’s name—will be rooted out so completely that even the closest family bonds will not shield it. Zechariah 13:3—The text “If anyone still prophesies, his own father and mother, the ones who bore him, will say to him, ‘You must not live, because you have told lies in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his own father and mother, the ones who bore him, will pierce him through.” Key observations • “Father and mother” are singled out twice; parental responsibility is unmistakable. • The phrase “the ones who bore him” underscores natural affection—yet truth outranks even that. • Parents must identify the lie (“you have told lies in the name of the LORD”) and then act on it. • The action is decisive; under Israel’s law (Deuteronomy 13:6-11) false prophecy carried capital punishment. • The point: love for God’s truth must eclipse every competing loyalty, even to one’s own child. Parental duties highlighted 1. Discern between truth and falsehood. Parents do not leave spiritual evaluation to others; they weigh every teaching against Scripture (1 John 4:1). 2. Confront error inside their own home. Affection never becomes an excuse for silence or compromise (Proverbs 27:5-6). 3. Put loyalty to the LORD first. The greatest commandment precedes family ties (Matthew 10:37). 4. Guard the covenant community. By addressing deception at its source, parents protect church and society from spreading lies (Galatians 5:9). 5. Model reverence for God’s name. Children learn that invoking the LORD falsely is no trivial matter (Exodus 20:7). 6. Accept personal cost. Upholding truth may strain relationships, yet faithfulness to God remains non-negotiable (Luke 14:26-27). Courageous love The verse’s severity reflects the theocratic context of ancient Israel, where civil law and divine law were intertwined. Today, parents no longer carry out civil penalties, yet the principle endures: genuine love dares to confront sin for the eternal good of the child and the honor of God. True compassion refuses to let deception flourish. Scriptural harmony • Deuteronomy 13:6-11—family members were not to spare a relative who enticed them to idolatry. • Deuteronomy 6:4-9—parents must teach God’s words “diligently” to their children. • Proverbs 22:6; 29:15—training and correction steer a child toward wisdom. • Ephesians 6:4—fathers are to raise children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” • 2 John 10-11—believers must not give platform to false teachers. Together these passages show that God assigns parents the front-line role in preserving doctrinal purity. Bringing it home • Saturate family life with Scripture—reading, memorization, and discussion. • Evaluate books, media, and online influences; remove what contradicts biblical truth. • Address misconceptions quickly, opening the Bible to show what God actually says. • Live transparently; integrity in parents reinforces the message they teach. • Link children to a Bible-teaching church where truth is championed. • Depend on the Spirit for daily wisdom and courage to stand firm when lies surface. Zechariah 13:3 reminds us that upholding truth is not optional parental “extra credit.” From ancient Israel to today’s households, God calls fathers and mothers to be vigilant gatekeepers—loving their children fiercely, yet loving His truth even more. |
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