What Does the Bible Say About Caring for Aging Parents?

A collaboration of bible verses for caregivers between Kapok Aging & Caregiver Resources and Each Day Anew.

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A common question we hear from readers is whether or not it is their obligation and duty to care for an aging parent as they need more assistance with day-to-day tasks. We delve into other aspects of this choice in other articles, such as the caregivers’ bandwidth, distance, and relationship to the parent. Our religiously inclined readers, however, may want to know how their faith factors into their role, which is why today we’re talking about Bible verses for caregivers.

Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about your role in caregiving? We collected the most pertinent verses that speak to our relationship to our parents, and the virtues of patience and self-sacrifice that we’ve come to know from caregivers.

Feel free to use them at your caregiver support groups or discuss them at your next Bible study.

Bible Verses for Caregivers

• Honoring Our Parents
• Helping and Advocating for the Sick and Weak
• Respecting Our Elders
• Having Patience

Honoring Our Parents

Despite the inconveniences and disruption to their own lives, caregivers often point to their sense of duty to caring for aging parents as a way of honoring them.

Leviticus 19:32. Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 17:6. Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs 23:22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

Ephesians 6:1-4. Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Helping and Advocating for the Sick and Weak 

There’s a reason that caregivers are often said to be doing God’s work.

Acts 20:35. I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Luke 14:13-14. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Matthew 7:12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Leviticus 19:14. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

Isaiah 46:4. And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Matthew 25:35-36, 40. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 20:25-28. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Deuteronomy 27:18. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Isaiah 42:16. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Job 29:15-16. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

Proverbs 31:8-9. Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

1 Timothy 5:8. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Galatians 6:10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Respecting Our Elders

The wisdom of our elders is always remembered and a great motivator for tending to their needs and ensuring they grow old with dignity.

1 Timothy 5:1-2. Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

1 Timothy 5:17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

1 Peter 5:5. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Proverbs 16:31. The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 20:29. The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

Job 12:12. With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

Job 32:6. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

Proverbs 23:22. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

Proverbs 20:20. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Psalms 71:18. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Psalms 92:14-15. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Psalms 71:9. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

Job 12:12-13. With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

Ruth 1:16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.

Having Patience 

Patience is one of the most important virtues that all caregivers must espouse on a daily basis. Jesus showed patience to all who approached Him.

Ecclesiastes 7:9. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

James 1:19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Proverbs 15:18. A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

1 Corinthians 13:4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Galatians 6:9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Source: The Holy Bible: King James Version. Iowa Falls, IA: World Bible Publishers, 2001.

Are there other verses from the Bible that resonate with you personally that you feel should be added to this list? Share in the comments below.