Orthodox Forge

Christian Concepts and Everyday Life

Are children, and those who are meant to fully obey those over them, obligated to blindly obey commands that are contrary to a divine command?

Q1209 · The Virtue of Obedience

When St. Mary reprimanded her Son, our Lord Jesus, because He remained in the Temple for three days conversing with the teachers and caused her and St. Joseph great anxiety (Luke 2:41–52), He did not apologize in order just to placate her. Rather, with a submissive spirit He calmly explained to her: “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

And when the Lord spoke about His crucifixion and death, St. Peter said to him, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” (Matt. 16:22), and the Lord turned to him and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matt. 16:23).

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