Filhos: herança de Deus, criação e valores na Bíblia

Filhos como herança e bênção de Deus

A Bíblia trata os filhos como uma herança do Senhor e uma bênção concedida à família, nunca como um fardo. Eles representam a continuidade da vida e o fruto da generosidade de Deus com o lar.

3 Behold, sons [are] an inheritance of YHWH, || The fruit of the womb [is] a reward. 4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty one, || So [are] the sons of the young men. 5 O the blessedness of the man || Who has filled his quiver with them, || They are not ashamed, || For they speak with enemies in the gate!(Psalms 127:3-5)

1 A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. O the blessedness of everyone fearing YHWH, || Who is walking in His ways. 2 You surely eat the labor of your hands, || You [are] blessed, and good [is] to you. 3 Your wife [is] as a fruitful vine in the sides of your house, || Your sons as olive plants around your table. 4 Behold, surely thus is the man blessed who is fearing YHWH.(Psalms 128:1-4)

2 His seed is mighty in the earth, || The generation of the upright is blessed.(Psalms 112:2)

12 Because our sons [are] as plants, || Becoming great in their youth, || Our daughters as hewn stones, || Polished—the likeness of a palace,(Psalms 144:12)

28 And God blesses them, and God says to them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over [the] fish of the sea, and over [the] bird of the heavens, and over every living thing that is creeping on the earth."(Genesis 1:28)

14 Blessed are you above all the peoples; there is not a barren man or a barren woman in you—nor among your livestock;(Deuteronomy 7:14)

4 Blessed [is] the fruit of your womb, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, the increase of your oxen, and the wealth of your flock.(Deuteronomy 28:4)

Ensinar o caminho e transmitir a fé

A formação espiritual e moral de uma criança não acontece por acaso: ela exige presença nas tarefas comuns do dia a dia. A Escritura orienta que os pais conversem sobre os mandamentos de Deus dentro de casa e pelo caminho, ensinando antes pelo exemplo do que pelo discurso.

6 And these words which I am commanding you today have been on your heart, 7 and you have repeated them to your sons, and spoken of them in your sitting in your house, and in your walking in the way, and in your lying down, and in your rising up,(Deuteronomy 6:6,7)

6 Give instruction to a youth about his way, || Even when he is old he does not turn from it.(Proverbs 22:6)

1 Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, || And give attention to know understanding.(Proverbs 4:1)

4 We do not hide from their sons, || Recounting praises of YHWH to a later generation, || And His strength, and His wonders that He has done.(Psalms 78:4)

Corrigir com sabedoria e sem exasperar

A disciplina bíblica tem como objetivo proteger a vida e moldar o caráter, não descarregar irritação. A firmeza necessária na correção anda sempre junta com a moderação: os pais são advertidos a não irritar nem desanimar os filhos na criação.

24 Whoever is sparing his rod is hating his son, || And whoever is loving him has hurried his discipline.(Proverbs 13:24)

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, || The rod of discipline puts it far from him.(Proverbs 22:15)

13 Do not withhold discipline from a youth, || When you strike him with a rod he does not die.(Proverbs 23:13)

15 A rod and reproof give wisdom, || And a youth let away is shaming his mother.(Proverbs 29:15)

4 And the fathers: do not provoke your children, but nourish them in the instruction and admonition of the LORD.(Ephesians 6:4)

21 the fathers: do not distress your children, lest they be discouraged;(Colossians 3:21)

7 if you endure discipline, God bears Himself to you as to sons, for who is a son whom a father does not discipline? 8 And if you are apart from discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons.(Hebrews 12:7,8)

O acolhimento e a ternura de Jesus pelas crianças

Jesus deu dignidade e tempo aos pequenos em uma época em que eles costumavam ser postos à margem. Ao repreender os discípulos e abençoar os meninos e meninas, Cristo colocou a simplicidade da infância como padrão para entrar no Reino dos Céus.

14 and Jesus having seen, was much displeased, and He said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the Kingdom of God;(Mark 10:14)

11 If, therefore, you being evil, have known to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who [is] in the heavens give good things to those asking Him?(Matthew 7:11)

52 and Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and men.(Luke 2:52)

13 As a father has mercy on sons, || YHWH has mercy on those fearing Him.(Psalms 103:13)

1 See what love the Father has given to us, that we may be called children of God; because of this the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.(1 John 3:1)

21 The woman, when she may bear, has sorrow, because her hour came, and when she may bear the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, because of the joy that a man was born into the world.(John 16:21)

Promessas de cuidado e esperança para as gerações

Deus conhece cada pessoa antes mesmo do nascimento e acompanha o crescimento dos filhos em cada detalhe. A Escritura traz promessas de paz, justiça e renovação que alcançam não apenas o presente, mas as gerações seguintes.

13 For You have possessed my reins, || You cover me in my mother’s belly. 14 I confess You, because I have been fearfully distinguished. Your works [are] wonderful, || And my soul is knowing [it] well. 15 My substance was not hid from You, || When I was made in secret, || Curiously worked in the lower part of earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, || And all of them are written on Your scroll, || The days they were formed—And not one among them.(Psalms 139:13-16)

5 "Before I form you in the belly, I have known you; and before you come forth from the womb I have separated you; I have made you a prophet to the nations."(Jeremiah 1:5)

24 YHWH bless you and keep you; 25 YHWH cause His face to shine on you, || And favor you; 26 YHWH lift up His countenance on you, || And appoint for you—peace.(Numbers 6:24-26)

3 For I pour waters on a thirsty one, || And floods on a dry land, || I pour My Spirit on your seed, || And My blessing on your offspring. 4 And they have sprung up as among grass, || As willows by conduits of water.(Isaiah 44:3,4)

13 And all your sons are taught of YHWH, || And the peace of your sons [is] abundant.(Isaiah 54:13)

38 and they have been to Me for a people, and I am to them for God; 39 and I have given to them one heart and one way, to fear Me all the days, for the good of them and their sons after them:(Jeremiah 32:38,39)

10 On You I have been cast from the womb, || From the belly of My mother You [are] My God.(Psalms 22:10)

25 I have been young, || I have also become old, || And I have not seen the righteous forsaken, || And his seed seeking bread. 26 All the day he is gracious and lending, || And his seed [is] for a blessing.(Psalms 37:25,26)

28 and God gives to you of the dew of the heavens, and of the fatness of the earth, and abundance of grain and wine; 29 peoples serve you, and nations bow themselves to you, be mighty over your brothers, and the sons of your mother bow themselves to you; those who curse you [are] cursed, and those who bless you [are] blessed."(Genesis 27:28,29)

39 And your infants, of whom you have said, They are for a prey, and your sons who today have not known good and evil, they go in there, and I give it to them, and they possess it;(Deuteronomy 1:39)

O papel dos filhos: honra, respeito e gratidão

O mandamento de honrar pai e mãe é o primeiro que traz uma promessa explícita de vida longa e paz. A resposta dos filhos à dedicação dos pais se expressa pela obediência na juventude e pelo amparo prático na velhice.

12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days are prolonged on the ground which your God YHWH is giving to you.(Exodus 20:12)

1 The children: obey your parents in the LORD, for this is right; 2 honor your father and mother, 3 which is the first command with a promise, "That it may be well with you, and you may live a long time on the land."(Ephesians 6:1-3)

20 the children: obey the parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the LORD;(Colossians 3:20)

1 Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causes a father to rejoice, || And a foolish son [is] an affliction to his mother.(Proverbs 10:1)

6 Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, || And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.(Proverbs 17:6)

7 The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, || O the blessedness of his sons after him!(Proverbs 20:7)

4 and if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety to their own house, and to give back a repayment to the parents, for this is right and acceptable before God.(1 Timothy 5:4)