Topical Bible: Children were Required: To Respect the Aged

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In biblical times, the respect and honor of the aged were deeply ingrained in the cultural and religious fabric of society. The Scriptures provide clear directives that children, and indeed all members of the community, were to show deference and respect to the elderly. This respect was not merely a social expectation but a divine commandment, reflecting the wisdom and experience that come with age and the reverence due to those who have walked the path of life longer.

Biblical Mandates

The command to respect the aged is explicitly stated in the Old Testament. Leviticus 19:32 instructs, "You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD." This verse encapsulates the principle that respect for the elderly is intertwined with the fear of God, suggesting that honoring the aged is an act of piety and obedience to divine authority.

Wisdom and Experience

The Bible often associates age with wisdom and understanding. Job 12:12 states, "Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life." This perspective underscores the value of the elderly as repositories of knowledge and experience, worthy of respect and consultation. The aged are seen as having a depth of insight that can guide the younger generations in righteous living and decision-making.

Family and Community Dynamics

Respect for the aged was also a cornerstone of family and community dynamics in biblical times. The family unit was central to societal structure, and the elderly often held positions of authority and influence within the family. Proverbs 23:22 advises, "Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." This proverb highlights the enduring respect and honor children are to show their parents, regardless of their age.

Consequences of Disrespect

The Bible also warns of the consequences of failing to respect the aged. In Deuteronomy 27:16 , a curse is pronounced: "Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother." This severe admonition reflects the gravity with which disrespect towards one's elders was viewed. Such behavior was not only socially unacceptable but also spiritually perilous, inviting divine disfavor.

Cultural Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the elderly were often seen as the custodians of tradition and the bearers of cultural and religious heritage. Their role in teaching and guiding the younger generations was crucial for the continuity of faith and practice. The biblical mandate to respect the aged thus served to preserve the integrity and stability of the community.

New Testament Affirmation

The New Testament continues to affirm the respect due to the elderly. While the cultural context had evolved, the principle of honoring those who are older remained. In 1 Timothy 5:1-2 , Paul instructs Timothy, "Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." This guidance reflects the continued emphasis on treating the elderly with dignity and respect within the Christian community.

In summary, the biblical requirement for children to respect the aged is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, rooted in the recognition of the wisdom, experience, and authority that come with age. This respect is seen as an expression of godliness and a vital component of a well-ordered and harmonious society.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 19:32
You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Baptism.
... to God in baptism, the parents were required to make ... is unto you and to your children."
[478:1 ... they unanimously decided that these scruples were groundless; and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii baptism.htm

From the End of the Third Continental Journey, in 1834, to the ...
... a hard struggle to give up her husband and children, she had ... prospect or not, it
was an offering required at our ... They were joined by William Dent of Marr, near ...
/.../chapter xiv from the end.htm

Claim of Missions on Ministers of Influence.
... them his "joy and crown""the "little children for whom ... of the five preachers at Antioch
were called to ... that the work of a missionary required greater talents ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter vi claim of missions.htm

Chrysostom -- Excessive Grief at the Death of Friends
... of no wrong either in himself or his children, yet experiencing ... True, they were
wonderful and great men. But we are now required to have more wisdom than they ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/chrysostom excessive grief at.htm

Authorship of the Pentateuch.
... for its Mosaic authorship in every essential respect. ... Moses to make with the children
of Israel ... subordinate modifications and additions as were required by the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter ix authorship of the.htm

The Persecutions of the Church.
... Its advocates were felt to be in earnest; and it was ... imprinted on the hearts of her
children the doctrine ... all other instances a willing mind is required as an ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the persecutions of.htm

Philemon i. 6-Apr
... when a man is more entitled to respect than they. ... For if he was profitable to Paul,
who required so great ... And the Three Children were in the fire, and in the ...
/.../homily ii philemon i 6-apr.htm

Completion Op the Fifth Continental Journey.
... our manner, but that it was a serious matter, and they required time to ... We were quite
of his mind in this respect; at the same time I ... All thy children shall be ...
/.../chapter xvii completion op the.htm

The Domestic Relation.
... and is ready to say, "I love my child." True love as required by the ... "Lo, children
are a ... womb is his reward." Psa.127:3. It may be that you were unmindful of ...
/.../orr/the gospel day /chapter xiii the domestic relation.htm

From the Conference of 1773 to the Commencement of the War in 1776
... of the above minute in respect to yielding ... and about twenty-two preachers are required
to supply ... persons, of youth, yea, of little children, were the subjects ...
/.../chapter 1 from the conference.htm