Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child

Posted on Jun 3, 2016 in Devotions |

 
Whenever there is a conversation about parenting it must inevitably come to the topic of discipline. It is also inevitable that “Spare the rod and spoil the child” is brought up as the Biblical perspective on raising children. Some evidently think that God advocates and wants us to beat our children with sticks and that this method of discipline will produce well behaved and respectful children. Here is a curious and profound truth:

“Spare the rod and spoil the child” is not in the Bible

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 According to Wikipedia the phrase most notably first occurred in a very popular satirical poem written 1663-1664 by Samuel Butler about the English civil war. “In the context of Hudibras the phrase is a bawdy metaphor suggesting the best way to curtail amorous passions or, through double entendre, to prevent conception:

 If matrimony and hanging go

By dest’ny, why not whipping too?

What med’cine else can cure the fits

Of lovers when they lose their wits?

Love is a boy by poets stil’d

Then spare the rod and spoil the child (Part II, Canto I, ll. 839-44).”

Latter in the poem it also says that women would rather have a good spanking than an assortment of pretty ribbons. I guess we should be thankful that that phrase does not get quoted as the Biblical perspective on marital relationships! (Although if you watch movies from the 30’s 40’s and 50’s you might question that- no comment on current movies!!!!)

The Bible verse most often associated with this is Proverbs 13:24 “He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” This is a far cry from beat your children with a stick! Also the word for rod has a greater interpretive range than just a stick. For instance, one might ask how is it that the shepherds rod and staff comfort us? I have yet to be comforted by a good woopin with stick. Or how about the scepter (rod) would not depart from Judah? Rod is more than just a word about spanking but represents the exercise of parental authority in discipline. Plainly understood if you do not discipline your children you hate them, but if you discipline them diligently you demonstrate your love for them. Who could disagree with this?

The next time you hear someone quote that popular phrase, you might ask them “Did you know that it is not in the Bible?” Or if you really want to be clever you might say “Women would rather have a good spanking than an assortment of lovely ribbons” but why are we quoting Hudibras?

Come find out what the Bible actually says about discipline.

See you at church.

 Pastor Chris.