Proverbs 1:8-9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
‘Hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.’ Scripture warns that children should obey their parents IN the Lord (Eph. 6:1; Col. 3:20), thus not against what God commands and never in any sinful way. Unsaved parents may still give good advice or instructions on basic matters of life that one can follow always bearing in mind the consequences of those decisions.
‘Hear the instruction.’ Five examples of hearing instruction: The Rechabites (Jer. 35:18-19). Samuel (1Sam. 1:28; 2:18; 3:19-21). Jesus Christ (Luke 2:51). Paul (Acts 9:1-43; 26:19). Timothy (2Tim. 1:5; 3:15; Acts 16:1).
‘An ornament of grace’ – When you ornament something, you’re beautifying, embellishing, or adorning it. So must whatever we learn from our parents be those things that give us a godly character with integrity and that equip us for life to be a blessing to others.
‘Chains about thy neck.’ Gold necklaces indicated political dignity (Gen. 41:42; Dan. 5:7, 16, 29), so this verse says that obedience to parents is the best way to become prominent among men (1:8-9) in the right way, not for one’s own status in life, but always for God’s glory (1Cor. 10:31).
Romans 12:3 warns us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, thus, not to be conceited and self-important, but to be humble.
Living the Word 