What does Scripture say about children’s education?
What does Scripture say about children’s education and what is parents’ responsibility regarding their kids’ education? Public school, parochial school, home education: what is Yahweh’s desire? And whose kids are they anyway? Yahweh has much to say in His Word about all this. Parents seeking Yahweh’s will about their children’s education need search no further than the Bible itself.
First, Yahweh claims all children as His own.
Ezekiel 16:20 “Moreover you took your sons and daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them (idols) to be devoured. Were your acts of harlotry a small matter, that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?
And Yahweh even claims the unborn as His own and His own creation.
Psalm 139:13-16 “For you formed my inward parts; you covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”
Job 10:8-12 “Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again? Did You not pour me out like milk, And curdle me like cheese, Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews? You have granted me life and favor, And Your care has preserved my spirit.”
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Yahweh blesses parents with the “gift” of children, and as shown above, children are His to give.
Psalm 127:3-5 “Behold, children are a heritage from Yahweh, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.”
Genesis 33:5 “And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom Elohim has graciously given your servant.
Genesis 48:8-9 “Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?” Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom Elohim has given me in this place.” And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.””
Isaiah 8:18 “Here am I and the children whom Yahweh has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel, From Yahweh of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.”
Parents then, are stewards of Yahweh’s children and He has delegated to them the authority and responsibility of raising His children. No other parties are mentioned in these Scriptures, certainly not government nor community nor even extended family. Children are ultimately Yahweh’s and He gives them to parents to care for and raise according to His Scriptural mandates. Children come from Yahweh, they ultimately belong to Him, and so they must be raised His way, not the parents’ way and not the government’s way.
Matthew 22:21, “And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to Elohim the things that are Elohim’s.”
Scripture differentiates between things under governmental jurisdiction and things that are of Yahweh. Yahweh plainly claims that children are His and also that their parents must raise them and teach them according to His mandates.
Deuteronomy 4:9-10 “Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before Yahweh your Elohim in Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, “Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 “Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is one! You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
“Diligent” is defined as “marked by persevering, painstaking effort”. That is how parents are to teach their children about Yahweh and His Law. Also in Moses’ statement above, he instructs parents to teach their children The Ten Commandments from the moment they wake up until the moment they go to sleep and at all times in between. (There is no way to do that if parents send their children away from home all day for training at either public or private schools. Not only this, but these other schools spend 35 hours a week teaching kids all kinds of lies, false doctrine, and pagan ways which would most certainly confuse kids whose parents then try to teach them the truth at home. Certainly, there exists no institutional school on earth which properly and truthfully teaches children about Yahweh and His Law. Only parents who are truly called by Yahweh and YahwehsShua are qualified to train their children this way.)
It is important to note that the Bible, including the Scriptures presented in this study, is given by Yahweh to His children, that is, saints or believers. Therefore, Yahweh’s commands to parents regarding their kids’ education, are directly specifically to believers’ and their children. Yahweh may not be as concerned with the mode of education for non-believers’ children.
Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Master.
Strong’s defines the Greek word for “nurture “ as 1) the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, 2) instruction which aims at increasing virtue, and 3) chastening (correction by punishment or reprimand).
“Admonition” is defined as 1) mild, kind, yet earnest reproof (disapproval), and 2) cautionary advice or warning.
Ephesians 6:4 plainly states that the believing father’s job is to bring up his children in the training (cultivation of mind and morals) and reproof (disapproval) of YahwehShua. It is incumbent upon believing parents to pray about how to best carry out this charge for YahwehShua.
In the following verses, Yahweh warns believing parents to be faithful and obedient as they teach their children about Him, His Law, and His wonderful deeds.
Psalm 78:1-11 Give ear, O My people to My law; Incline your ears to the words of My mouth. I will open My mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in Elohim, And not forget the works of Elohim, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to Elohim. The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of Elohim; They refused to walk in His law, And forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them.
Exodus 13:8,14 And you shall tell your son in that day, saying “This is done because of what Yahweh did for me when I came up from Egypt.”
Joshua 4:20-22, 24 And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, “What are these stones?”, then you shall let your children know, saying, “Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land” …… “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Yahweh, that it is mighty, that you may fear Yahweh your Elohim forever.”
Jeremiah 10:2 Thus says Yahweh: “Learn not the way of the heathen … “
Here, Yahweh tells His people what not to learn and it is “the way of the heathen.” Public schools and Christian schools both teach “the way of the heathen” as they leave Yahweh and His Word out of their curricula and focus on man-made holy days and Creation without a Creator.
2 Corinthians 6:14a, 17 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers….therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says Yahweh. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”
Again, Yahweh reminds believers to refrain from over-involvement with unbelievers, and instead, to remain separate from them. ( Home education would seem to best fulfill this commandment of Yahweh’s since the other school options demand 40 hours a weeks spent with a building full of unbelievers and their unbelieving ways.)
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of Yahweh.
Yahweh instructs believers to avoid becoming like the world but instead to transform our minds through constant exposure to the Scriptures. Institutional schools, public and parochial, are inherently “worldly” and thus train children to be “conformed to this world” with numerous false holy days and the breaking of the Ten commandments, for example. Public schools were founded on atheism and of course leave the Bible out of their curriculum. Christian schools worship false deities and misinterpret the Scriptures, concocting much false doctrine. Based on the Scriptures which have been herein presented, it is obvious that neither public nor parochial schools would please Yahweh regarding the education of believers’ children.
James 4:4-5 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with Yahweh? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Yahweh. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
Again, Yahweh makes it clear that His people are to be separate from the world and He is jealous for them to be separate and sanctified. If believers send their children to the world’s schools where the world’s values are taught, they are directly disobeying the Scripture above and causing Yahweh to become jealous. They have become friends of the world and enemies of Yahweh.
Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the unholy, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of Yahweh, And in His Law he meditates day and night.
Yahweh again commands believers and their children to not spend much time with the unconverted, but instead to meditate on His Law around the clock.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
This verse claims a cause and effect relationship between the training and future life of believers’ kids. If believing parents live by the Bible, why would they want their kids’ training to be exempt of the Scriptures and proper doctrine? If the Bible is (mostly) true and Yahweh is the true Elohim of the universe, then believers’ children must be trained in His Law and His righteousness.
Luke 6:39-40 “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.”
How can we entrust our kids to teachers who don’t know Yahweh and expect them to learn any more than they’re taught?
Matthew 22:37-38 “You shall love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
How can our children love Yahweh with their minds when public schools train them to ignore Yahweh and Christian schools train them to focus on His enemy?
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in Yahweh for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Yahweh, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah.
If institutional schools do not involve high things (demonic entities) that exalt themselves against the knowledge of Yahweh, then nothing does. And if so, then believers can cast them down through refusing to use them for their kids’ education.
Matthew 16:23 “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of Elohim, but the things of men.”
Colossians 3:1-3 If then you were raised with Messiah, seek those things which are above, where Messiah is, sitting at the right hand of Yahweh. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in Yahweh.
Matthew 6:33 “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
These Scriptures are especially faith-building as they remind believers to put Yahweh first and let Him bring everything else to them, especially worldly and material needs. And regarding children’s education, that if they make Yahweh the center of their kids’ training, He will take care of all worldly needs, including college and future careers. He knows what our children need and we can be confident that He will provide as long as we first seek Him and His kingdom.
The following passage in Proverbs 6 expresses the importance of parents teaching their children. It assumes that parents are holy and righteous and teaching truth to their kids. If kids and parents, for that matter, are gone all day Monday through Friday and not even together during they day, there would be no way for believers to teach their children to the extent commanded in this proverb.
Proverbs 6:20-23 My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.
How many parents are spending much time teaching profound truths to their children? This Scripture is one more evidence leading us to know Yahweh’s preference for the education of his people’s children.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Does a child walk with wise men at either public or parochial schools? Given the curricula at these schools, could the attendees even be considered “evil company”? These Scriptures present a sober warning related to the company believers and their children keep.
Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by Yahweh, And great shall be the peace of your children.
This Scripture commands that Yahweh be the teacher. Earlier in Proverbs 6:20-23, Yahweh commands that a child be taught well by his mother and father. Put these Scriptures together and we get a picture of the training Yahweh wants for believers’ children. It involves mother and father at home and lots of Bible, Yahweh, and His Spirit. The promise of peace to our children in Isaiah 54:13 is a wonderful promise from Yahweh.
Yahweh gives us several Scriptures defining the content of true education.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
Combined with previous Scriptures commanding converted parents to teach their children about Yahweh, His commandments, and His wondrous deeds, Psalm 111 above makes it clear that believing parents are to teach their children to obey Yahweh’s commandments, including the Ten Commandments, Holy Days, and the Clean Food Laws. The home environment versus the institutional school setting would make all of this far easier. Regular schools have activities on the Sabbath, for example. They are obviously in session on Yahweh’s holy days. They break some of the Ten Commandments and they do not know Yahweh’s Clean Food Laws.
Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasure; Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of Elohim.
This next verse again reinforces the importance of mother’s and father’s instructions to their children.
Proverbs 1:7-9 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.
When Paul writes to Timothy, we learn that Timothy was trained in the Old Testament Scriptures as a child. Should believers want anything less for their children?
2 Timothy 3:14-15 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Messiah YahwehShua.
This next passage states that those who love Yahweh’s Law have more understanding than both their teachers and the ancients and are wiser than their enemies! The blessings that follow focusing on Yahweh’s Word are incredible. What public or private school curriculum can touch this?
Psalm 119:97-104 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day, You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your Words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
Finally, two Scriptures of warning for converted parents seeking Yahweh’s will for their kids’ education.
But Matthew 18:5-6 “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Converted parents must seriously seek Yahweh’s will for their children’s education. Doing the wrong thing is not an option.
To sum things up, we will come full circle and finish with the first Scripture noted on page 1, also a dire warning to Yahweh’s people concerning the raising of their children.
Ezekiel 16:20 “Moreover you took your sons and daughters, who you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them (idols) to be devoured. Were your acts of harlotry a small matter, that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass through the fire?”
In the time of Ezekiel, the Israelites actually sacrificed (Yahweh’s) children to the pagan deity, Molech, sometimes allowing them to be burned to death. Yahweh was rightfully angry with this abomination against “His” children.
But how does this relate to us today? If Yahweh took the time to put it in the Bible, Ezekiel 16:20 must have an application for today. The obvious connection relates to the abortion industry. In my view, it is the sacrifice of millions of children to Satan.
I believe there is another application which relates directly to our study on child training. Yahweh makes it clear in His Word that children are His, in fact in Ezekiel 16:20 He calls them “My children”. If believers choose to send “His” children to either atheistic, government-run public school, Satan-worshipping Christian or other parochial school, or secular private school (atheistic too), doesn’t Yahweh consider that these children have been sacrificed to the Enemy? They obviously would not receive much training about Yahweh and His Word and instead would be immersed in worldly and Satanic false doctrine. They would effectively be sacrificed to idols and their parents would be idolaters, inciting Yahweh’s displeasure and wrath. No true saint of Yahweh would want to so displease Him.
By way of allowing Father Yahweh the last word, I close with Proverbs 4:1-14, 18.
Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; For I give you good doctrine; Do not forsake my law. When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory, she will deliver to you.” Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered. And when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked. And do not walk in the way of evil….But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
HalleluYah
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