Teaching Children the Importance of Honesty and Integrity
The instruction of children in honesty and integrity is a recurring theme in biblical and theological traditions, often linked to the broader concept of righteousness and the propagation of divine truth. Parents and instructors are encouraged to actively train children in these virtues, understanding them as foundational to both individual character and societal well-being [4, 5].
The New Testament emphasizes the importance of practicing righteousness. John writes, "Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous" [1, 2]. This verse connects righteous behavior directly to God's own character, implying that honesty and integrity are reflections of divine nature. Similarly, the Apostle Paul instructs Titus to be "an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility" [3]. This highlights that integrity is not merely a concept to be taught but a quality to be embodied by those who instruct.
From a Reformed perspective, John Calvin stressed the duty of parents to diligently communicate what they have learned from the Lord to their children. This transmission of knowledge is not for private use but for the edification of others, ensuring the propagation of God's truth across generations [4]. This view aligns with the Puritan emphasis found in Matthew Henry's commentary on Proverbs, which states that parents should "train up children" to keep them from "sins and snares" and to prepare them for their intended purpose. This training involves catechizing, initiating, and disciplining children, much like soldiers are trained to handle arms and observe commands [5].
The concept of "truth" in Christian thought is deeply intertwined with honesty and integrity. Jesus himself declared, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Tyndale House notes that discipleship involves not only knowing who Jesus is but also obeying his teachings, and because Jesus is the truth, knowing him brings discernment between what is true and what is false. This truth, when embraced, is said to bring freedom from darkness, falsehood, and sin [8].
The Old Testament book of Proverbs frequently addresses the upbringing of children and the importance of wisdom, which includes honesty and integrity. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Proverbs, notes that a fundamental law for making young people "such as they should be" is to "fear God and honour his parents" [9]. This fear of God is presented as the beginning of knowledge and a foundation for moral conduct. Furthermore, parents are encouraged to use correction, including discipline, to impart wisdom to their children, understanding that "vexation sharpens the intellect" [7]. The positive outcome of such diligent training is that children become a "comfort" and "delight" to their parents, providing rest and satisfaction from seeing the "happy fruit of the good education" [6].
The connection between godliness and honesty is also made explicit in the Ten Commandments. Matthew Henry observes that the second table of the law, which includes commandments concerning duties to one another, constitutes a "comment upon the second great commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." He concludes that "Godliness and honesty must go together," indicating that integrity in human relationships is an essential aspect of true religion [10].
Sources
- 1 John “1 John 3:7 (NASB) — Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;”
- I John “I John 3:7 (Webster) — Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”
- Titus “in all things showing yourself an example of good works; in your teaching showing integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, -- Titus 2:7”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 22.18: to posterity and that they may deliver the knowledge received through us, from hand to hand, (as we say,) to their descendants. Wherefore, it is the duty of parents to apply themselves diligently to the work of communicating what they have learned from the Lord to their children. In this manner the truth of God is to be propagated by us, so that no one may retain his knowledge for his own private use; but that each may edify others, according to his own calling, and to the measure of his faith. There is however no doubt, that the”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 22:6: Here is, 1. A great duty enjoined, particularly to those that are the parents and instructors of children, in order to the propagating of wisdom, that it may not die with them: Train up children in that age of vanity, to keep them from the sins and snares of it, in that learning age, to prepare them for what they are designed for. Catechise them; initiate them; keep them under discipline. Train them as soldiers, who are taught to handle their arms, keep rank, and observe the word of command. Train them up, not in the way they would go (the bias of their corrupt ”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:17: Note, 1. It is a very happy thing when children prove the comfort of their parents. Good children are so; they give them rest, make them easy, and free from the many cares they have had concerning them; yea, they give delight unto their souls. It is a pleasure to parents, which none know but those that are blessed with it, to see the happy fruit of the good education they have given their children, and to have a prospect of their well-doing for both worlds; it gives delight proportionable to the many thoughts of heart that have been concerning them. 2. In order”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:15: Parents, in educating their children, must consider, 1. The benefit of due correction. They must not only tell their children what is good and evil, but they must chide them, and correct them too, if need be, when they either neglect that which is good or do that which is evil. If a reproof will serve without the rod, it is well, but the rod must never be used without a rational and grave reproof; and then, though it may be a present uneasiness both to the father and to the child, yet it will give wisdom. Vexatio dat intellectum - Vexation sharpens the intellec”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 8:31: 8:31-32 Discipleship is more than knowing who Jesus is. It is also about obeying his teachings (3:36; 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10). • Because Jesus is the truth (14:6), knowing him brings discernment of what is true and what is false. • set you free: The truth brings freedom from darkness, falsehood, and sin.”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 1:7: Solomon, having undertaken to teach a young man knowledge and discretion, here lays down two general rules to be observed in order thereunto, and those are, to fear God and honour his parents, which two fundamental laws of morality Pythagoras begins his golden verses with, but the former of them in a wretchedly corrupted state. Primum, deos immortales cole, parentesque honora - First worship the immortal gods, and honour your parents. To make young people such as they should be, I. Let them have regard to God as their supreme. 1. He lays down this truth, that the”
- Exodus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Exodus 20:12: We have here the laws of the second table, as they are commonly called, the last six of the ten commandments, comprehending our duty to ourselves and to one another, and constituting a comment upon the second great commandment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. As religion towards God is an essential branch of universal righteousness, so righteousness towards men is an essential branch of true religion. Godliness and honesty must go together. I. The fifth commandment concerns the duties we owe to our relations; those of children to their parents are alone”