Bible Verses that Value Family

[Benjamin]

I see there are 10 verses that speak of "be fruitful and multiply", off hand I can think of verses that speak if husband and wife and parents and young children. But, can you think of any that speak of parents and grown children, siblings, grown siblings, grandparents, grandchildren that express value in these relationships? That promote things like family reunions and visiting your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins?

 

[Aaron]

Ephesians 6:2

 

[JonShaff]

I see there are 10 verses that speak of "be fruitful and multiply", off hand I can think of verses that speak if husband and wife and parents and young children. But, can you think of any that speak of parents and grown children, siblings, grown siblings, grandparents, grandchildren that express value in these relationships? That promote things like family reunions and visiting your parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins?

I believe it's inferred that it's a life long endeavor to love your family--although i believe the family unit (our physical family) is a microcosm/type/shadow of the Church (our eternal family). For instance, when your aging mother is feeble and in need of care, we should do all we can to honor them and take care of them--not toss them aside like a used pair of sneakers. The Lord Jesus inferred this as well as the Pharisees were side-stepping "Honor your father and mother" by taking money that could kelp them and offering up "what is corban" so that the money can be consumed upon themselves and not on their parents.

Not to mention--the culture in which the Bible was written was an honor culture--family first structure. Many things can be inferred by this.

 

[rlvaughn]

Benjamin, here are some verses of scripture that might be applicable to what you are asking.

• Genesis 14:13-14 And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
• Joshua 24:15 ...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
• Job 1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
• Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
• Psalm 68:6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
• Psalm 107:41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
• Psalm 127:1,3-5 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it...Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
• Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• Proverbs 4:3-4 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
• Proverbs 11:29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
• Proverbs 12:7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
• Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
• Proverbs 23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
• Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
• Mark 7:10-13 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
• Luke 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
• John 2:1-2 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
• John 11:3-5 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
• John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
• Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise; )
• 1 Timothy 5:4,8,16 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God...But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel...If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them...
• 1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Some verses may need some explanation as to why I chose them. For example, Genesis 14, because Abram valued his nephew's family enough to take military action against what likely was a much superior force.

 

[Benjamin]

Ephesians 6:2

About as precise of instructions as it gets.

 

[Benjamin]

I believe it's inferred that it's a life long endeavor to love your family--although i believe the family unit (our physical family) is a microcosm/type/shadow of the Church (our eternal family). For instance, when your aging mother is feeble and in need of care, we should do all we can to honor them and take care of them--not toss them aside like a used pair of sneakers. The Lord Jesus inferred this as well as the Pharisees were side-stepping "Honor your father and mother" by taking money that could kelp them and offering up "what is corban" so that the money can be consumed upon themselves and not on their parents.

Not to mention--the culture in which the Bible was written was an honor culture--family first structure. Many things can be inferred by this.

I agree, my heart has been telling me family values are biblically inferred by but my mind's been drawing mostly blanks about were it is.

 

[Benjamin]

Benjamin, here are some verses of scripture that might be applicable to what you are asking.

Thanks rlvaughn, that is helpful to get the wheels turning.