We must look after and respect our elderly parents. Parents have cared for us so we should take care of them in their old age. The Old Testament tells us to honor our parents in the Ten Commandments. It is an important duty in our lives that God has commanded us to do.
Supporting older parents is not just about financially. We have to spend time with them and be by their side every day. We should never treat them badly but treat them with kindness and dignity. If we forget their contributions we will be ungrateful and God will be angry with us.
The Bible teaches us to care for older parents as we prove that God’s teaching is in our hearts. In many families these days we see people abandoning their parents when they grow up. They forget their parents’ contribution to their lives. They become so anxious about their lives and futures that they forget their duties to their parents and become selfish.
The Lord Jesus showed us how to take care of our parents. He did not forget his duty to his mother even when he was suffering the pain of death on the cross. So he ordered his beloved disciple to take care of his mother. Let us follow the example that Jesus set for us. Then the people of the world will understand how righteous and holy our God is.
We should be very careful about this because God’s eyes are on everything we do. If we neglect our elderly parents while thinking of ourselves, God will punish us on the Day of Judgment.
Let us examine the Bible scriptures below that discuss the importance of caring for your elderly parents.
What does the Bible say about honoring elderly parents?
“Honour thy father thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee”
— Exodus 20:12
“Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, honour the face of the old man, fear thy God: I am the Lord”
— Leviticus 19:32
“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, despise not thy mother when she is old”
— Proverbs 23:22
“Honour thy father mother; which is the first commandment with promise”
— Ephesians 6:2
“For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father mother: , He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death”
— Matthew 15:4
“Honour thy father thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee”
— Deuteronomy 5:16
“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord”
— Colossians 3:20
“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, forsake not the law of thy mother”
— Proverbs 1:8
“For Moses said, Honour thy father thy mother; , Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death”
— Mark 7:10
How can I show love and respect to my aging parents according to Scripture?
“But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, to requite their parents: for that is good acceptable before God”
— 1 Timothy 5:4
“He that wasteth his father, chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, bringeth reproach”
— Proverbs 19:26
“When Jesus therefore saw his mother, the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home”
— John 19:26-27
“Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness”
— Proverbs 20:20
“With all lowliness meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”
— Ephesians 4:2
“Pure religion undefiled before God the Father is this, To visit the fatherless widows in their affliction, to keep himself unspotted from the world”
— James 1:27
“Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins”
— 1 Peter 4:8
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, edify one another, even as also ye do”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Biblical examples of caring for elderly family members
“Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, thy God my GodWhere thou diest, will I die, there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, more also, if ought but death part thee me”
— Ruth 1:16-17
“Joseph placed his father his brethren, gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commandedAnd Joseph nourished his father, his brethren, all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families”
— Genesis 47:11-12
“Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. the king rose up to meet her, bowed himself unto her, sat down on his throne, caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; she sat on his right hand”
— 1 Kings 2:19
“Haste ye, go up to my father, say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry notAnd thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, thou shalt be near unto me, thou, thy children, thy children’s children, thy flocks, thy herds, all that thou hastAnd there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, thy household, all that thou hast, come to poverty”
— Genesis 45:9-11
“David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father my mother, I pray thee, come forth, be with you, till I know what God will do for meAnd he brought them before the king of Moab: they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold”
— 1 Samuel 22:3-4
“But Moses hands were heavy; they took a stone, put it under him, he sat thereon; Aaron Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, the other on the other side; his hands were steady until the going down of the sun”
— Exodus 17:12
“He returned back from him, took a yoke of oxen, slew them, boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, gave unto the people, they did eat. Then he arose, went after Elijah, ministered unto him”
— 1 Kings 19:21
“Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great manAnd the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, I will feed thee with me in JerusalemAnd Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?”
— 2 Samuel 19:32-34
“Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their fathers”
— Proverbs 17:6
Balancing caregiving responsibilities with other duties: A Christian perspective
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”
— Philippians 4:13
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understandingIn all thy ways acknowledge him, he shall direct thy paths”
— Proverbs 3:5-6
“Come unto me, all ye that labour are heavy laden, I will give you rest”
— Matthew 11:28
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, not be weary; they shall walk, not faint”
— Isaiah 40:31
“Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, not unto men”
— Colossians 3:23
“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”
— Galatians 6:9
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”
— 1 Corinthians 10:31
“God is our refuge strength, a very present help in trouble”
— Psalm 46:1
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, upbraideth not; it shall be given him”
— James 1:5
Prayers for strength and guidance in caring for elderly parents
“The Lord is my strength my shield; my heart trusted in him, I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; with my song will I praise him”
— Psalm 28:7
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GodAnd the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts minds through Christ Jesus”
— Philippians 4:6-7
“Confess your faults one to another, pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”
— James 5:16
“It is God that girdeth me with strength, maketh my way perfect”
— Psalm 18:32
“He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9
“The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace”
— Psalm 29:11
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”
— Isaiah 41:10
“All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”
— Matthew 21:22