What the Bible says about caring for aging parents

The 15 verses readers most often turn to for this topic, quoted in full from the Berean Standard Bible.

1 Tim 5:8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Tim 5:4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

Exod 20:12Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Prov 23:22Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Lev 19:32You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.

Deut 5:16Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

1 Tim 5:1Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as to a father. Treat younger men as brothers,

Eph 6:2“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),

John 19:25–27Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.

Isa 46:3–4“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth. Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.

Ps 71:9Do not discard me in my old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails.

Jas 1:27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Matt 15:4–6For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Prov 23:25May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

Job 12:12Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

These are the verses readers most often turn to for this topic — not a teaching on it. Read each in its chapter.

Sources

The verses of each topic and their order: OpenBible.info topical data, by readers’ votes: OpenBible.info · CC BY 4.0

Berean Standard Bible · Public domain