John Calvin Commentary Colossians 3:20

"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord." — Colossians 3:20 (ASV)

Children, obey your parents. He commands children to obey their parents, without any exception. But what if parents should be inclined to compel them to anything that is unlawful; will they in that case, too, obey without any reservation? Now it would be worse than unreasonable, that the authority of men should prevail at the expense of neglecting God.

I answer that here, too, we must understand as implied what he expresses elsewhere (Ephesians 6:1)—in the Lord. But for what purpose does he use such a universal term? I answer again, that it is to show that obedience must be rendered not merely to just commands, but also to those that are unreasonable.

For many comply with their parents' wishes only when the command is not burdensome or inconvenient. But, on the other hand, children ought to consider this one thing: whoever their parents may be, they have been allotted to them by the providence of God, who by His appointment makes children subject to their parents.

In all things, therefore, so that they may not refuse anything, however difficult or disagreeable—in all things, that in matters of indifference they may defer to the position their parents occupy—in all things, that they may not place themselves on equal terms with their parents by questioning, debating, or disputing, it being always understood that conscience is not to be infringed upon.

He prohibits parents from exercising excessive harshness, so that their children are not so disheartened as to be incapable of receiving any honorable training; for we see from daily experience the advantage of a broad and beneficial education.