Proverbs 4:1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
‘Hear’ – the command to listen and obey the words given in Proverbs – the same command is given in Matthew 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23: 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35 and Revelation 2:2, 11, 17; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9.
‘You children’ – To be a child of God and have the authority to call Him Father, one must be born again of the Holy Spirit and be adopted into His family (John 3:3-5; Rom. 8:14-16). Sinners are not children of God. Ephesians 5:1 declares that we should be followers of God, as dear children; thus were followers called children. The Greek word mimetes means imitators; to mimic the gait, speech, accent, and manner of life of another. It means here to imitate God as children do their parents – imitate His acts, words, nature, ways, graces, and Spirit. We are called to be followers of that which is good (1Pet. 3:13), followers of God (Eph. 5:1) and to follow Christ’s example (1Pet. 2:21), but those who do not choose or stand in rebellion against God become followers of satan (1Tim. 5:15).
In Scripture, we have plenty of examples where children refer to followers: children of the Highest (Luk. 6:35); children of God (Luk. 20:36; Rom. 8:21; 1Jn. 3:10, 5:2); children of light and the day (Eph. 5:8-9; Col. 1:12; 1Thess. 5:4-5); and children of the resurrection (Luk 20:36).
In contrast to good, we have the rebels who are the followers of evil called the children of wrath (John 8:44; Rom. 5:12-21; Eph. 2:3; 5:6; Ps. 51:5); children of disobedience (John 8:44; Eph. 2:2; 4:22-24; 5:6; Col. 3:6, 9; 1Jn. 3:8; 5:18); children of the wicked one and the devil (Matt. 13:38; Acts 13:10; 1Jn. 3:10); and children of pride (Job 41:34).
Hebrews and Greeks called anyone who had a particular destiny, quality, or trait, the child of that thing, as “children of the kingdom” (Matt. 8:12; 13:38); “of the bridechamber” (Matt. 9:15); “of hell” (Matt. 23:15); “of wrath” (Eph. 2:3); “of wisdom” (Matt. 11:19; Luke 7:35); etc.
Living the Word 