“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21).
Instruction to fathers is fairly limited in the New Testament except for teaching about living according to the standards God has given for everyone in His word. The word “provoke” means deliberately making someone angry.
When fathers do provoke, they may arouse a variety of emotions in children that may be detrimental to their intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development; and the children may feel defeated—even to the point of feeling they can’t live up to any standard of good.
Rather than provoking, fathers are to follow God’s example as our Heavenly Father by protecting, providing for, loving, and disciplining children. When earthly fathers fulfill these four responsibilities, they set a standard for children to emulate but also provide a safe haven in which children can feel nurtured and secure