Verse 21

Fathers, do not be hard on your children, so that their spirit may not be broken.

Referenced Verses

• Eph 6:4 : 4 And, you fathers, do not make your children angry: but give them training in the teaching and fear of the Lord.
• 1 Thess 2:11 : 11 Even as you saw how, like a father with his children, we were teaching and comforting you all, and giving witness,
• Ps 103:13 : 13 As a father has pity on his children, so the Lord has pity on his worshippers.
• Prov 3:12 : 12 For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
• Prov 4:1-4 : 1 Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge: 2 For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me. 3 For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother. 4 And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:
• Heb 12:5-9 : 5 And you have not kept in mind the word which says to you as to sons, My son, do not make little of the Lord's punishment, and do not give up hope when you are judged by him; 6 For the Lord sends punishment on his loved ones; everyone whom he takes as his son has experience of his rod. 7 It is for your training that you undergo these things; God is acting to you as a father does to his sons; for what son does not have punishment from his father? 8 But if you have not that punishment of which we all have our part, then you are not true sons, but children of shame. 9 And again, if the fathers of our flesh gave us punishment and had our respect, how much more will we be under the authority of the Father of spirits, and have life? 10 For they truly gave us punishment for a short time, as it seemed good to them; but he does it for our profit, so that we may become holy as he is. 11 At the time all punishment seems to be pain and not joy: but after, those who have been trained by it get from it the peace-giving fruit of righteousness.