Rule from beneath - Why the Bible prescribes that order of the family

Many parents see themselves as above their children, and abuse their children from that vantage point. It is assumed that parents are in charge, and thus are above their children. The fact of the matter is that children rule, and rule from beneath.

It says in Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things, as is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they become discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to providing custody, meaning rest and the care and attention of parents, owing nothing in return to parents, yet nonetheless showing gratitude for care and attention by listening to the reassuring and familiar voice of parents. Parents are to love their children, as denoted by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to being convicted with the righteous terror of the Lord, leading to surrender to God through one's own child, giving up all adult power and control at their footstool, treating them like royalty, sacrificing for them and taking up the cross for them just as Christ took up the cross for His children, rendering oneself beneath one's child, devaluing yourself as a caregiver and servant towards her, leading to good works for children just for the sake of doing good and being generous towards a child, with the child being an extension of God, expecting absolutely nothing in return, feeling grateful for all the hard work done, including within oneself, in order to benefit a child. Such gratitude is the emotion concept of love, and is a hidden feeling of pride that does not demand or boast in return. The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to the offenses in the legal context of the Bible, namely torts and damages such as assault and battery laws, in which there was no "reasonable chastisement" defense except for adult children in the Old Testament who run amok and delinquent. Here, it refers to the slightest of offense perceived that "stir up" negative emotion in children, meaning usually anger, resentment, and other upset, based on entitled intent in an adult. 

Children in ancient Israel and adjoining cultures ruled their parents, not the other way around. There was a specific contention in Jewish and Christian homes alike, where parents provided and supplied needs, and children demanded needs, without mincing words. Attachment parenting was the norm then, and rule from beneath is a tenet of attachment parenting, by way of mutual submission. Children first, parents last. That's how God prioritizes things. That means the reverse, meaning parents provide first, and children are to provide last, once parents are done providing and need to be provided for themselves. Children then dictated the choices of parents from the moment they were born and held in their mother's bosom, and even before that in the pro-life Early Christian context.

Children were seen as greater than their parents, meaning next to God, because they were smaller (Matt. 25:31-46), and parents were to dutifully and selflessly submit to the every need of a child, including attachment needs, as if they owed such things to God. Parents were God on earth as well, but in a providing way, not a punishing way, meaning parents were servants to their children, meaning attendant caregivers towards their children.

The depraved and entitled provoke not your children to anger, lest they become discouraged! Let them suffer in the lake that burneth with fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!