Colossians 3:21

Fathers We may (as in Ephesians 6:4, where see note) equally well render Parents. Cp. Hebrews 11:23, in the Greek. Still, the father is the natural representativeof the dual parental authority.

provoke not … to wrath Chafe, irritate. The Greek word is as old as Homer (e.g. Iliad, i. 32, iv. 5), who almost always uses it of provocation to combat. Unwise, unloving, parental despotism, exacting, needlessly chiding, interposing for the sake of interposition, is a fatally sure challenge to the child's will. The Christian father should handle that will as kindly as firmly.

be discouraged Lose hope, the hope of pleasing, the animating expectation of doing right and so winning the "well done" of love. The eternal Father "upbraideth not" (James 1:5; cp. Isaiah 57:16). Luther has here, auf dass sie nicht scheu werden.