Colossians 3:21

Provoke ...to anger. Gr. erethizo, “to stir up,” either in a good sense, as in 2 Corinthians 9:2, or in an evil sense, as here. By continual nagging and complaining, finding fault and censuring, the feelings of children can be roused in revulsion against all forms of discipline.

Discouraged. Gr. athumod, “to lose heart,” “to become spiritless or despondent.” The word occurs only here in the NT. Under continual provocation the young person may lose heart in his attempts to attain victory over his weaknesses, and give up the Christian life altogether. His father’s objectives may have been right, but his unfortunate method of attempting to achieve perfection in his child produces a disastrous result. See Ephesians 6:4.