Mothers Rule Kings’ Cradles For Good or Evil

© 2020 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

By the time you read this, we will have observed the annual celebration of “Mother’s Day.”  It reminds us that mothers are important.  However, do we realize how important this is to God, Himself?

Scripture references “mother,” in some form, over 300 times.  Many of these passages emphasize the equal honor offspring owe to both mothers and fathers.  Perhaps the most notable example is the honor which God the Son, Jesus Christ, displayed to His mother and stepfather.  Joseph and Mary had lost track of His whereabouts.  After finding Him in the temple discussing Scripture with the religious leaders, Scripture records:

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)

There’s a common statement which says, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”  Scripture emphasizes this aspect of the mother’s role.  In describing the righteous or evil characteristics of kings, Scripture seems to link their characteristics to mothers.  It repeatedly uses the phrase, “…and his mother’s name was …”.  Asa was one of the very few righteous kings of Judah.  Scripture describes him thusly.

“… And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.  And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.” (1 Kings 15:10 – 11)

In some gatherings of Christians, Kathy and I have observed gross disrespect, by sons, for their mothers.  Once, at a fellowship dinner, we heard some teenage boys sitting next to us agreeing that their mothers, and women in general, were mentally and emotionally inferior to their fathers.  They joked about it.  Any father who, even unwittingly allows the authority of his wife to be undermined in this way, in order to establish his own authority, is displeasing God.  Each parent must establish the authority of the other.  Both must be honored and obeyed.  Consider God’s statements about this matter.

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:” (Proverbs 1:8)

Both mother and father, together, must seek to lead their children to the Lord and only Savior.

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