Topical Bible: Children: Wicked

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In the Bible, the concept of wickedness in children is addressed with a focus on the inherent sin nature present from birth and the importance of guidance and discipline in leading them towards righteousness. The Scriptures provide insights into the nature of wickedness and the responsibility of parents and society in nurturing children according to God's ways.

Inherent Sin Nature

The Bible acknowledges that all humans, including children, are born with a sinful nature. This is rooted in the fall of man, as described in Genesis. David, in his penitential psalm, reflects on this inherent sinfulness: "Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5). This verse underscores the belief that wickedness is not merely a learned behavior but an innate condition that requires divine intervention and moral instruction.

Foolishness and Discipline

Proverbs, a book rich in wisdom literature, frequently addresses the behavior of children and the necessity of discipline. Proverbs 22:15 states, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him" . This verse suggests that children naturally exhibit foolishness, which can manifest as wickedness if not corrected. The "rod of discipline" is a metaphor for corrective measures that guide children away from sinful behaviors and towards wisdom and righteousness.

Parental Responsibility

The Bible places a significant emphasis on the role of parents in shaping the character of their children. Ephesians 6:4 instructs, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" . This verse highlights the balance between discipline and nurturing, encouraging parents to raise their children with love and guidance according to biblical principles.

Consequences of Wickedness

The Scriptures also warn of the consequences of allowing wickedness to flourish in children. Proverbs 29:15 states, "A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces his mother" . This proverb emphasizes the potential for disgrace and shame when children are not properly disciplined, suggesting that unchecked wickedness can lead to a life of folly and rebellion against God.

Hope for Redemption

Despite the presence of wickedness, the Bible offers hope for redemption and transformation. Jesus' ministry emphasized the value and potential of children, as seen in Matthew 19:14: "But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'" . This passage reflects the belief that children, though born with a sinful nature, are precious in God's sight and capable of receiving His grace and entering His kingdom.

In summary, the Bible acknowledges the presence of wickedness in children due to the inherent sin nature but also emphasizes the importance of discipline, parental guidance, and the transformative power of God's grace in leading them towards righteousness.

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Genesis 8:21
And the LORD smelled a sweet smell; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
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Exodus 21:15,17
And he that smites his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
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Numbers 32:14
And, behold, you are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.
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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:
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Deuteronomy 27:16
Cursed be he that sets light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
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Job 13:26
For you write bitter things against me, and make me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
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Job 19:18
Yes, young children despised me; I arose, and they spoke against me.
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Job 20:11
His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
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Job 30:1,12
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.
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Psalm 144:7,8,11
Send your hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
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Proverbs 7:7
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
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Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
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Proverbs 13:1
A wise son hears his father's instruction: but a scorner hears not rebuke.
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Proverbs 15:5,20
A fool despises his father's instruction: but he that regards reproof is prudent.
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Proverbs 17:2,21,25
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.
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Proverbs 19:13,26
A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
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Proverbs 20:20
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
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Proverbs 22:15
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
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Proverbs 23:22
Listen to your father that begat you, and despise not your mother when she is old.
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Proverbs 28:7,24
Whoever keeps the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shames his father.
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Proverbs 30:11,17
There is a generation that curses their father, and does not bless their mother.
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Ecclesiastes 11:9,10
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes: but know you, that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
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Isaiah 3:5
And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable.
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Jeremiah 3:25
We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covers us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.
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Jeremiah 7:17,18
See you not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
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Jeremiah 32:30
For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, said the LORD.
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Ezekiel 22:7
In you have they set light by father and mother: in the middle of you have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in you have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
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Micah 7:6
For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
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Mark 7:10
For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever curses father or mother, let him die the death:
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Mark 13:12
Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
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Romans 1:30
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
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2 Timothy 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
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Strong's Hebrew

1121. ben -- son
... your children's (1), children and children's (1), children's (2), children's children
(5), colt ... 1), valiant* (3), warriors (1), whelps (1), wicked* (3), young ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

Library

Why the Great are Compared to Little Children.
... And with regard to fear, therefore, similar things to those spoken might be conceived,
that the little children do not experience the fear of the wicked, but a ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/16 why the great are.htm

Lot's Escape from a Wicked City
The Children's Bible. <. ... THE OLD TESTAMENT LOT'S ESCAPE FROM A WICKED CITY.
And Abraham went along with them to start them on their way. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/lots escape from a wicked.htm

Those Persons who do not Believe in God, but who are Disobedient ...
... those] of the devil, for whom eternal fire is prepared; and as, again, He declares
with regard to the tares, "The tares are the children of the wicked one," ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xli those persons who do.htm

Jesus Makes the Wicked Zaccheus his Friend
The Children's Bible. <. ... THE NEW TESTAMENT JESUS MAKES THE WICKED
ZACCHEUS HIS FRIEND. As Jesus passed through Jericho ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus makes the wicked zaccheus.htm

The Children's Bible
The Children's Bible. <. The Children's Bible Henry A. Sherman. ... THE STORY
OF THE TOWER OF BABEL. LOT'S ESCAPE FROM A WICKED CITY. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/

As in a Race Saw I the Disputers, the Children of Strife, [Trying] ...
... 1. As in a race saw I the disputers, the children of strife, [trying] to ... out dreams
for time beyond; all of them by his craftiness did the wicked one persuade ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn vii as in a.htm

John Chapter xiii. 31-32.
... That Rock was Christ." [1227] Nor is it said, The good seed signified the children
of the kingdom, or, The tares signified the children of the wicked one; but ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lxiii john chapter xiii.htm

"They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his ...
... one time, (Exodus 19:8, Deuteronomy 5:27,) ye would call them children. ... undertake,
being ignorant of their own deceitful hearts, which were desperately wicked. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon iv they have corrupted.htm

That Evil Comes of Sloth, and virtue from Diligence, and that ...
... On this account he left the wicked in the midst of the good, that since they are
of the ... For the one he denuded of all his wealth, and deprived of his children. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily iii that evil comes.htm

The Teaching of Matthew 13 Proves that no Era of Millennial ...
... was supplied by the Lord Himself: just as the wheat represents the "children of
the Kingdom," so the tares symbolize the "children of the Wicked One." Let it ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 the teaching of matthew.htm