In the Bible, the concept of "bad children" is addressed through various scriptures that highlight disobedience, rebellion, and the consequences of such behavior. The Bible provides guidance on the upbringing of children, emphasizing the importance of discipline, respect, and adherence to God's commandments.

Disobedience and Rebellion

The Bible frequently warns against disobedience and rebellion in children. Proverbs 30:17 states, "As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures eat it." This vivid imagery underscores the seriousness with which the Bible views disrespect towards parents.

In Deuteronomy 21:18-21, the law addresses a "stubborn and rebellious son" who does not obey his parents even after discipline. The passage prescribes severe consequences, reflecting the gravity of such behavior in the community: "Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid."

Consequences of Disobedience

The Bible illustrates that disobedience can lead to personal and communal downfall. In Proverbs 19:26, it is written, "He who assaults his father and evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace." This verse highlights the shame and dishonor brought upon a family by a child's rebellious actions.

The account of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, in 1 Samuel 2:12-17, serves as a cautionary tale. They are described as "wicked men" who "had no regard for the LORD." Their actions led to their downfall and the eventual judgment upon Eli's household, demonstrating the severe consequences of failing to adhere to God's ways.

Parental Responsibility and Discipline

The Bible places significant responsibility on parents to guide and discipline their children. Proverbs 22:6 advises, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This verse emphasizes the long-term impact of a godly upbringing.

Discipline is seen as an expression of love and care. Proverbs 13:24 states, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently." This suggests that appropriate discipline is necessary for the moral and spiritual development of a child.

Respect and Honor

Respect for parents is a recurring theme in the Bible. The fifth commandment, found in Exodus 20:12, instructs, "Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you." This commandment underscores the importance of honoring one's parents as a fundamental aspect of a righteous life.

In the New Testament, Ephesians 6:1-3 reiterates this principle: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (which is the first commandment with a promise), 'so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'" This passage connects obedience with blessings and well-being.

Conclusion

The Bible provides clear guidance on the behavior and upbringing of children, emphasizing the importance of obedience, respect, and discipline. Through various scriptures, it warns of the consequences of rebellion and disobedience while highlighting the role of parents in nurturing and guiding their children in accordance with God's commandments.Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself brings his mother to shame.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 19:18
Chasten your son while there is hope, and let not your soul spare for his crying.
Topicalbible.org

Deuteronomy 21:18-21
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not listen to them:
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Topicalbible.org

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long on the land which the LORD your God gives you.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Topicalbible.org

Exodus 21:15
And he that smites his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 13:24
He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes.
Topicalbible.org

Colossians i. 21, 22
... will we do, and be obedient." (Exodus 24:7.) And as it happens in the case of
desperately bad children, that when the father would put them to death, [775] the ...
/.../homily iv colossians i 21.htm

Fathers and Children'
... ungrateful. Of course he would tell bad parents and children to repent, just
as he came to tell all other kinds of sinners to repent. But ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon i fathers and children.htm

Children and Childlike Men
... Everybody is to the child either a 'good' man or a 'bad.' They have ... Children ought
to grow up in Christian households, 'innocent from much transgression.' We ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/children and childlike men.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Mark viii. 5, Etc. , Where the Miracle ...
... 5. So then this Bridegroom, "fair in beauty above the children of men," became deformed ...
Without doubt it is something which the bad and good have not in common ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xlv on the words.htm

The Bad Squire
... THE BAD SQUIRE. ... a poacher yourself, squire, When you'd give neither work nor meat,
And your barley-fed hares robbed the garden At our starving children's feet; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the bad squire.htm

Christianity and Business
... a lesson to the good, and one might fancy that it praises the bad people at ... says:
"Even such people as these have something to teach to the children of light.". ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lvii christianity and business.htm

What Children of Light Should Be
... The true reading is, 'Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light' (not ...
is by no means a sufficient account of the process by which bad men become ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/what children of light should.htm

Ignorance of the Seed Makes no Difference.
... Are you setting your children a good or a bad example? Do you spend your time at
the saloon or the club, until you have become almost a stranger to them? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter vi ignorance of the.htm

The Children of the Poor.
... And results as bad as this appear in the conditions of poverty, suffering, and ... worse
than those who made horrid food of their own children"offering their ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse vii the children of.htm

How Human Actions are Without Worth when they are done Without ...
... that is the acts, of most holy charity, and the children or acts ... do amongst schismatics,
according to S. Augustine, and sometimes amongst bad Catholics, they ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi how human actions.htm

How bad can a Christian sin? | GotQuestions.org

Why was it bad that Aaron and his sons burned the sin offering in Leviticus 10:16 20? | GotQuestions.org

What is the problem of good? | GotQuestions.org

Bad: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus