“Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.” – Proverbs 22:6
What Does The Bible Say About Parents Being Wrong
Parents are important in a child’s life because they are the first teachers and guides. God has given them the responsibility to raise their children with love and wisdom. However, parents are human and can make mistakes. The Bible does not say that parents are always right but encourages them to lead with fairness.
When parents are wrong, children should respond with respect and patience. They are not required to follow their parents into wrongdoing but must choose what is right. The Bible teaches that God’s truth is greater than human authority. Children should speak with kindness when correcting their parents.
If a parent’s mistake has caused pain, the Bible encourages seeking forgiveness. Holding onto anger can damage relationships, but God values peace. Parents should be open to correction and willing to change. God provides healing and restoration for broken families.
The Bible teaches that parents should not be harsh or unfair. Instead, they must guide their children in righteousness and love. When parents fail, God’s grace helps restore relationships. His wisdom leads both parents and children toward truth, love, and respect.
Also Read: Bible Verses about Parenting Responsibilities
Bible Verses About Parents Being Wrong
Parents Are Not Always Right
Parents are a vital part of our lives, guiding and nurturing us. However, they are human and can make mistakes. The Bible acknowledges that even those in authority, including parents, can sometimes be wrong. When this happens, children must navigate these situations with wisdom, respect, and truth. The Bible provides guidance on how to handle such circumstances while maintaining honor for parents and obedience to God. Here are five verses that highlight instances where parents were wrong and how to deal with such situations.
Colossians 3:21
“Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits.”
Ezekiel 18:20
“The soul that sins is the soul that dies. The child doesn’t bear the guilt of the parent, nor the parent the guilt of the child.”
1 Samuel 2:29
“So why do you treat your sons better than me, pampering them, ignoring me?”
Luke 14:26
“Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self—can’t be my disciple.”
Matthew 15:3
“Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands?”
When Parents Lead Children Astray
While parents should guide their children in the ways of the Lord, some may lead them away from righteousness due to ignorance, tradition, or personal desires. The Bible warns against following teachings that contradict God’s word. Children must discern when to obey and when to remain faithful to God’s truth. The following verses highlight the danger of misguided parental leadership.
Ezekiel 20:18
“I told their children, ‘Don’t do what your parents did. Don’t take up their practices. Don’t make yourselves filthy with their gods.”
Deuteronomy 24:16
“Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for parents. We each pay personally for our sins.”
Matthew 10:37
“If you prefer father or mother over me, you don’t deserve me.”
Jeremiah 31:29
“‘At that time people will no longer say: Parents ate the green apples, their children got the stomachache.”
Mark 7:9
“You scratch out God’s word and scrawl a whim in its place.”
Honoring Parents While Disagreeing
The Bible teaches that honoring parents is important, but it doesn’t mean blind obedience when they are in the wrong. Children must respect their parents while upholding God’s truth. Disagreement should be handled with wisdom and humility, ensuring that God’s word remains the ultimate authority.
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and mother so that you’ll live a long time in the land that God, your God, is giving you.”
Acts 5:29
“It’s necessary to obey God rather than men.”
Proverbs 23:22
“Listen with respect to the father who raised you, and when your mother grows old, don’t neglect her.”
Romans 12:18
“If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.”
Galatians 6:1
“If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself.”
Parents Are Accountable to God
While children have a responsibility to honor their parents, parents also have an obligation to raise their children in God’s ways. They are accountable to God for how they lead and influence their children. The Bible provides clear instruction on parental responsibilities and warns against abusive or misguided authority.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
“Write these commandments on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children.”
Proverbs 1:8
“Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother’s knee.”
Malachi 2:15
“God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage.”
Matthew 18:6
“If you give one of these simple children a hard time, bullying them, you’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck.”
James 3:1
“Teachers are held to the strictest standards.”
When Parents Act Unjustly
Parents are expected to be fair and just in their dealings with their children. However, there are times when they act unfairly, showing favoritism, being too harsh, or neglecting their responsibilities. The Bible warns against such behavior and provides guidance on how to handle unjust treatment while remaining faithful to God’s principles.
Genesis 37:3-4
“Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was the child of his old age. He made him an elaborately embroidered coat. When his brothers realized that their father loved him more than them, they grew to hate him.”
Ephesians 6:4
“Fathers, don’t frustrate your children with no-win scenarios. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.”
Micah 6:8
“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor.”
Job 8:3
“Does God mess up? Does God Almighty ever get things backward?”
Proverbs 11:1
“God hates cheating in the marketplace; he loves it when business is aboveboard.”
When Parents Fail in Their Responsibilities
God entrusts parents with the duty of raising their children in wisdom and righteousness. However, some parents neglect their responsibilities, failing to provide love, discipline, or spiritual guidance. The Bible addresses the consequences of parental neglect and encourages children to seek God’s wisdom even when their earthly parents fail them.
1 Timothy 5:8
“Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place.”
Proverbs 13:24
“A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.”
Hosea 4:6
“My people are ruined because they don’t know what’s right or true. Because you’ve turned your back on knowledge, I’ve turned my back on you priests.”
Proverbs 29:15
“Wise discipline imparts wisdom; spoiled adolescents embarrass their parents.”
Psalms 27:10
“My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in.”
Responding to Parental Mistakes with Grace
Even when parents are wrong, children are called to respond with wisdom, love, and grace. The Bible teaches that while parents are fallible, they should still be treated with respect. It also reminds children that ultimate obedience belongs to God. Learning to forgive and seek reconciliation is a key part of navigating parental mistakes.
Matthew 6:14-15
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others.”
Romans 12:21
“Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.”
1 Peter 3:9
“That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless.”
Philippians 2:3
“Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.”
Luke 6:35
“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it.”
Seeking God’s Guidance Above All
While parents are meant to provide guidance, the ultimate source of wisdom is God. When faced with difficult situations where parents are in the wrong, children must turn to God’s word and seek His direction. Trusting in the Lord ensures that decisions are made with wisdom and righteousness.
James 1:5
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do.”
Psalms 119:105
“By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.”
Isaiah 30:21
“Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right.”
John 16:13
“But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is.”
Christian Quotes on Parents Being Wrong
“God calls parents to be examples of His love, but when they fail, His grace is enough for both the child and the parent. Our duty is to seek Him above all.” — Billy Graham
“Honoring parents does not mean agreeing with them in everything, but it does mean treating them with the same mercy and patience God shows us.” — Charles Stanley
“Forgiveness is not about excusing the wrong; it is about choosing God’s way over bitterness.” — T.D. Jakes
“When parents fail, God’s wisdom prevails. He is the perfect Father who never forsakes us.” — Max Lucado
“Your parents may not always be right, but God’s word is. Seek His truth in all things.” — Rick Warren
“A godly response to an ungodly parent can be the testimony that leads them to Christ.” — John Piper
“Respect is given not because parents are perfect, but because God commands it. However, obedience to God must always come first.” — Paul Washer
“Healing from the wounds of parental mistakes starts at the cross. Jesus understands our pain and walks with us in our journey to forgiveness.” — Tim Keller
“God does not demand blind loyalty to human authority. He calls us to follow truth and righteousness above all.” — John MacArthur
“Pray for the parents who have wronged you, for prayer is the key that can unlock their hearts to God’s transformation.” — Leonard Ravenhill
Final Thought
Parental authority is a God-given responsibility, but parents, like all humans, are fallible. The Bible acknowledges that parents can be wrong, but it also teaches children to respond with wisdom, grace, and a commitment to truth. Even in situations where parents act unjustly, God’s love remains the ultimate guiding force. When earthly parents fail, God steps in as the perfect Father, offering healing and direction.
By seeking His wisdom, practicing forgiveness, and holding firm to His commands, we navigate parental mistakes with faith and resilience. Above all, the call to honor parents does not mean ignoring wrongdoing, but it does mean reflecting Christ’s love in how we respond. No matter the circumstances, we can trust that God works all things for good, leading us into His perfect plan.