And you, fathers, do not be irritating your children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah.”​—Eph. 5:33–6:4.

Of course, a father who irritates his children with unreasonable commands and needless severity can easily lose their confidence. If he administers discipline in anger, he can alienate his children. They may build up anger within themselves toward their father, for anger begets anger. When this happens, the children submit to discipline, not because they are convinced that it is right, but because they are forced to yield to their father’s superior strength. Such discipline does not produce desired results, as it provides no real incentive for children to change their ways. Usually it leads to their becoming resentful and even rebellious.

On the other hand, when the father is submissive to the law of God in handling family affairs, the results are quite different. His oral teaching is backed up by a fine example in Christian conduct. This can help children to appreciate that their father has their interests at heart. He wants to see good, not bad, come to them. When children are convinced of this, they respond with loving obedience to his discipline. Their love for their father also deters them from doing things that would bring reproach upon him.