God charged Eli with honoring his sons above the Lord. Eli had permitted the offering appointed by God as a blessing to Israel to be made a thing of abhorrence, rather than bring his sons to shame for their impious and abominable practices. Those who follow their own inclination, in blind affection for their children, indulging them in the gratification of their selfish desires, and do not bring to bear the authority of God to rebuke sin and correct evil, make it manifest that they are honoring their wicked children more than they honor God. They are more anxious to shield their reputation than to glorify God; more desirous to please their children than to please the Lord and to keep His service from every appearance of evil.

Gud beskyldte Eli for, at han havde æret sine sønner frem for Herren. I stedet for at irettesætte dem for deres vanhellige og syndige opførsel tillod Eli, at det offer, som ifølge Guds vilje skulle være til velsignelse for Israel, blev ringeagtet. Hvis mennesker følger deres egne tilbøjeligheder og er så forblindede af kærlighed til deres børn, at de opfylder alle deres selviske ønsker og undlader at bruge den myndighed, som Gud har givet dem, til at irettesætte synd og ondskab, så viser de, at de ærer deres onde børn mere end Gud. De er mere interesserede i at bevare deres eget ry end i at ære Gud, og det er dem mere magtpåliggende at føje deres børn end at behage Herren og værne gudstjenesten imod alt ondt.