CHILDREN in the BIBLE
© Original material and text. 2019.

Section Nine

Ezekiel 18

The whole of Ezekiel 18 is a discussion about people paying for their own sins. The Israelites were quoting a proverb (given in verse 2): “The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are on edge.” This meant that they were complaining that they were paying the price of their parent’s wrongdoing. The Israelites were told that they will no longer quote this proverb, because it is made clear that people will die for their own sin (verses 3 and 4). A set of theoritical situations are used to reinforce the point about people paying for their own sin: • (verses 5 to 9) A man is considered to be righteous because of what he does (for example, not using idols, looking after the poor, following God’s laws). This man will live. • (verses 10 to 13) The righteous man has a son who does the opposite of his father (for example, looks at idols, takes advantage of the poor). This man will die for his own sins - ‘his blood will be his own head’. • (verses 14 to 18) This man then has a son. This son does not follow his father’s wrongdoing, but does what is right. This man will live, even though his father has been punished for wrongdoing. • (verses 19 and 20) These scenarios answer the question of whether the son shares the guilt of his father - he does not. ‘The one who sins is the one who will die’ i.e. righteousness and wickedness are credited to the person alone. • (verses 21 to 24) If a wicked person turns away from their sins they will live, and if a righteous person turns to sin they will die. • (verses 25 to 32) This reflects God’s justice. People are judged for their own actions (righteous or wicked) but this goes hand-in-hand with the opportunity to change. God desires that everyone chooses the path of righteousness and ‘get a new heart and a new spirit’.

The Equivalent in

Jeremiah

The proverb that is quoted at the start of Ezekiel Chapter 18 is also quoted in Jeremiah (Chapter 31 verse 29). Although much shorter, the passage in Jeremiah makes the same point as the one in Ezekiel - namely that the people who are quoting the proverb will do so no longer because each person will bear the responsibility for their own sin.
CHILDREN in the Bible
© 2019

Section Nine

Ezekiel 18

The whole of Ezekiel 18 is a discussion about people paying for their own sins. The Israelites were quoting a proverb (given in verse 2): “The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are on edge.” This meant that they were complaining that they were paying the price of their parent’s wrongdoing. The Israelites were told that they will no longer quote this proverb, because it is made clear that people will die for their own sin (verses 3 and 4). A set of theoritical situations are used to reinforce the point about people paying for their own sin: • (verses 5 to 9) A man is considered to be righteous because of what he does (for example, not using idols, looking after the poor, following God’s laws). This man will live. • (verses 10 to 13) The righteous man has a son who does the opposite of his father (for example, looks at idols, takes advantage of the poor). This man will die for his own sins - ‘his blood will be his own head’. • (verses 14 to 18) This man then has a son. This son does not follow his father’s wrongdoing, but does what is right. This man will live, even though his father has been punished for wrongdoing. • (verses 19 and 20) These scenarios answer the question of whether the son shares the guilt of his father - he does not. ‘The one who sins is the one who will die’ i.e. righteousness and wickedness are credited to the person alone. • (verses 21 to 24) If a wicked person turns away from their sins they will live, and if a righteous person turns to sin they will die. • (verses 25 to 32) This reflects God’s justice. People are judged for their own actions (righteous or wicked) but this goes hand-in- hand with the opportunity to change. God desires that everyone chooses the path of righteousness and ‘get a new heart and a new spirit’.

The Equivalent in

Jeremiah

The proverb that is quoted at the start of Ezekiel Chapter 18 is also quoted in Jeremiah (Chapter 31 verse 29). Although much shorter, the passage in Jeremiah makes the same point as the one in Ezekiel - namely that the people who are quoting the proverb will do so no longer because each person will bear the responsibility for their own sin.