Children, obey your parents in all things: as this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke 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 submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to submit to children as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return.
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, a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that 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 Christians who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children in his time. Indeed, Greco-Roman fathers used the scourge of cords to punish their children, but NOT the Christians among them - the Early Christians were persecuted largely due to being "too soft" on their children.
Many children tantrum come Christmas Day. The reason for most Christmas tantrums is social and sensory overload. Most children, including young children, are forced to socialize with adults. Mixed with all the commotion going on, this makes a recipe for a temper tantum. Children who throw tantrums on Christmas day are not trying to "undermine" you. They are just as tired as you are. So, offer them constant comfort at Christmas dinner this Christmas Day.
The idea behind constant comfort is swaddling blankets. Mothers, when visiting relatives for Christmas in the Early Church, wrapped up their young children - under age 6 - in swaddling blankets. The swaddling blankets were made of velvet, which was grown throughout the Ancient Middle East. The swaddling blankets were tied to the left breast, then across the dot to the right leg, or vice versa, or both in the case of twins. Children were held close to the mother's bosom when overwhelmed.
To note - they did celebrate Christmas in the Early Church. There was gift-giving, but not the commercialized kind. Early Christian Christmas was a time as a more wholesome Christmas, meaning without Santa Claus. Young children - under age 6 - were wrapped up next to the bosom of mothers in swaddling blankets, when visiting relatives. The constant closeness with mothers led to quiet tears, and then maybe the child latching on when they are milk-hungry.
Children never throw tantrums in order to "undermine adults". They throw tantrums to communicate that they are tired or overwhelmed. Children struggle with sin like anyone else would, and don't relish in their sinful habits. Children are struggling sinners, not not defensive sinners. Temper tantrums are a normal type of behavior.
The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever 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 day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
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