The apostle makes a natural transition from husbands and wives to children (see Col. 3:20).

 Or, “just.” This is the chief reason given for obedience, but it is sufficient. In the very very nature of things obedience is fitting, for God commands it, parents are entitled to it, and it is for the good of the children. In Col. 3:20 obedience is said to be “well pleasing unto the Lord.” The reign of law in human relationships is as essential as it is in the natural world; otherwise there would be anarchy and chaos. That obedience to parents in that which they lawfully require is right, is negatively evidenced in the history of families where parental control is lacking.

 This phrase qualifies “obey” rather than “parents,” thus establishing that children, within their spiritual capacity, should obey from principle rather than from necessity. To “obey in the Lord” is to give the kind of obedience that springs from being “in Christ” (see on ch. 1:1); it may also indicate the limitations that are inherent in any human commands, even those of parents to children. Parental requests should be in harmony with the will of God (Acts 5:29). Parents must take upon themselves the responsibility for any moral misdirection of the child. The awakening conscience of the child must be respected by the parents; only thus could obedience be “in the Lord.”

 This is a stronger word than “submit,” which is used to express the relation of wife to husband (ch. 5:22), and indicates a different relationship. Throughout Scripture, disobedience to parents is treated as one of the greatest evils (cf. Rom. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:2). Obedience on the part of children is reasonable and just. Of all creatures that are born, a human babe is the most helpless, and for years it is entirely dependent on the kindness and love of parents. There can be no ordered family life without the obedience of the children, for the child is not competent to judge the reason for certain courses of action. But even more important, a child who is disobedient to parents will surely be disobedient to God, for he will know nothing of those disciplines and restraints that are absolutely essential to Christian growth. The word “obedience” does not ring pleasantly in some modern ears, but those who resent it as “regimentation” must assume their share of the blame for the alarming rise of juvenile delinquency in recent years.