The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel again, making the chapter a direct message from God to Israel through him. It opens God's answer to the popular proverb that blamed the suffering, guilt and punishment of children on the sins of their fathers. That excuse was pictured in the saying that the fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge, and the message that follows rejects its use. In its place stands the truth that every person belongs to God and is accountable for his own sin and conduct, as the soul of the father so also the soul of the son. The soul that sins shall die while the just shall live, the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father nor the father bear the iniquity of the son, but the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
The just person who shall live is one who does what is lawful and right according to God's law, avoiding idolatry and oppression, acting honestly and compassionately, and keeping God's statutes and judgments to deal truly. This means oppressing none, restoring the debtor's pledge, spoiling none by violence, giving bread to the hungry and covering the naked, giving not upon usury nor taking increase, withdrawing from iniquity, executing true judgment, and walking in God's statutes. If the wicked turns from all his wickedness and keeps God's statutes and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live and all his transgressions shall not be mentioned to him. For God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires that he return and live. Because God is the owner of every soul, children who have reached years of accountability are responsible for their own actions and must cooperate with God in working out their own salvation. When the commands of parents conflict with the commands of God, children must obey God as heavenly Father, Creator and Redeemer, while still respecting parents and not hating them, but when underage children are compelled to transgress plain commandments the sin is charged to the parents who caused them to transgress.
The chapter belongs with messages of reproof and warning intended to guide people, carrying the duty to warn them in light of God's knowledge and judgment of their actions. Those who hear such reproof and warning with patience and a teachable spirit may receive the Lord's blessing.
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel again, making the chapter a direct message from God to Israel through him. It opens God's answer to the popular proverb that blamed the suffering, guilt and punishment of children on the sins of their fathers. That excuse was pictured in the saying that the fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge, and the message that follows rejects its use. In its place stands the truth that every person belongs to God and is accountable for his own sin and conduct, as the soul of the father so also the soul of the son. The soul that sins shall die while the just shall live, the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father nor the father bear the iniquity of the son, but the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
The just person who shall live is one who does what is lawful and right according to God's law, avoiding idolatry and oppression, acting honestly and compassionately, and keeping God's statutes and judgments to deal truly. This means oppressing none, restoring the debtor's pledge, spoiling none by violence, giving bread to the hungry and covering the naked, giving not upon usury nor taking increase, withdrawing from iniquity, executing true judgment, and walking in God's statutes. If the wicked turns from all his wickedness and keeps God's statutes and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live and all his transgressions shall not be mentioned to him. For God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires that he return and live. Because God is the owner of every soul, children who have reached years of accountability are responsible for their own actions and must cooperate with God in working out their own salvation. When the commands of parents conflict with the commands of God, children must obey God as heavenly Father, Creator and Redeemer, while still respecting parents and not hating them, but when underage children are compelled to transgress plain commandments the sin is charged to the parents who caused them to transgress.
The chapter belongs with messages of reproof and warning intended to guide people, carrying the duty to warn them in light of God's knowledge and judgment of their actions. Those who hear such reproof and warning with patience and a teachable spirit may receive the Lord's blessing.