Approval vs. rejection: Why parents in the Bible wanted approval from their children (not respect)

Many parents in America want respect. Most American parents want respect from their children, and demanded it in an entitled way from their children. Most American parents don't care about the approval of their children, and simply want to be respected and honored for their glorified title. The fact of the matter is that parents in the Early Christian churches wanted approval from their children, not respect.

The Fifth Commandment, contrary to popular myth, legislates that children should approve of their parents, and if the child rejects their parents, the parents are at fault for provoking their child to anger. The Fifth Commandment is repeated in Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, dutifully and selflessly submitting to children just as they would to God, expecting absolutely nothing in return, with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are to submit to children as their enemy, from beneath yet from above, revering and fearing children as extensions of God.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards a child. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times was seen as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punsihing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his writings.

Children in biblical times were viewed as vulnerable extensions of God, meaning vulnerable appearances of God, called to judge righteously the charity and good will of mankind, bringing out the best and the worst of mankind. Mothers didn't want the respect of their children, but the approval of their children. It was the kind of approval that parents needed to earn from their child by treating them with respect and meeting their needs. Parents knew they won over their children's approval when children sought them out for love and affection. Approval from children was seen as the same as approval from God.

When a child rejected their parents, it was seen as suspicious by greater Jewish society in biblical times. The ancients had their concept of child abuse, and the definitions under Christian law were more expansive than today's definitions. Whenever a mother or father was rejected by their own child, it was suspected that the parents provoked children to that anger and resentment, thus discouraging them. Any offense perceived from a child, coming from entitlement, was seen as child abuse in biblical times. 

Parents in biblical times wanted to be liked by their children. This is because parents in the Early Church taught lessons such as discipline and non-entitlement by example, and in order for a child to follow the example of a parent, they have to approve of the parent, meaning like the parent. Parents in biblical times didn't even ask for children to love them in return. They asked nothing in return, earning everything in terms of approval.

For both parents, approval from children was often in the form of sexual yearning. Boys wanted their mothers sexually, and girls wanted their fathers sexually. Approaching parents for sexual purposes was fornication, and so children just enjoyed being around parents when their presence towards their parents was relevant. Children could seek out parents for other reasons than intent to sexually pester them, but children had to watch their intent around their parents. But, that's how the approval usually came.

I myself want only approval from children, and know that I am deserving of none of it for being the depraved and decadent pedophilic adult that I am. I tend to get a lot of approval from children when I confess my entitlement in relation to them. I want children to like me, yet I have to earn that like from children.

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!