One of the most important things a parent can do, in teaching their child, is
to provide firm discipline in their life. Without proper discipline in a child's
life, they will lack the strength to make and carry out the right choices, as
well as the ability to interact in a positive way with others during their
lives.
Though the term beat is often found used in these verses, it is not meant to
be taken literally, but refers to a spanking as a good and timely means of
discipline in a child's life. The act of discipline is an act of love, it shows
our desire for our children to grow up with and know proper values. As parents,
we should always show love in our actions, never rage. Be firm with love not
with anger. Affection and discipline must always be used hand in hand.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 "The child that has been disciplined and is
still rebellious is to be put to death, to keep evil from among you."
Proverbs 13:24 "He that spared his rod hates his son: but he
that loves him chastens him betimes."
Proverbs 19:18 "Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not
thy soul spare for his crying."
Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;
but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."
Proverbs 23:13-14 "Withhold not correction from the child: for
if thou beats [Refers to spanking] him with the rod [paddle],
he shall not die. If you beat him with a rod, you will deliver his soul from
death [Eternal death]."
Proverbs 29:15 "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child
left to himself brings his mother to shame."
Ephesians 6:4 "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to
wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening [Pain] for the present
seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby."
Sirach 30:8-13 "A horse that is untamed turns out to be
stubborn, and a son unrestrained turns out to be willful. Pamper a child and
he will frighten you; play with him and he will give you grief. Do not laugh
with him lest you have sorrow with him, and in the end you will gnash your
teeth. Give him no authority in his youth, and do not ignore his errors. Bow
down his neck in his youth, and beat his sides while he is young, lest he
become stubborn and disobey you, and you have sorrow of soul from him.
Discipline your son and take pains with him, that you may not be offended by
his shamelessness."
Measure of
Deuteronomy 19:21 "And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall
go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for
foot."
Matthew 5:38-45 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not
evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the
other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat,
let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile,
go with him twain. Give to him that asks thee, and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be
the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise
on the evil and on the good, and sands rain on the just and on the
unjust."
Speed of Execution
Ezra 7:26 "And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the
law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be
unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to
imprisonment."
The state of affairs that our youth are in today, can for the most part be
traced to the parents lack of discipline on their children. When a parent does
not correct a child with swift and firm discipline, they become a party to their
child's evil deeds as they grow up.