If there’s one thing I get from this passage, it’s that each of us stands accountable before God. The day will come when we will have to answer to him for our actions and decisions.
At this time, the Israelites were complaining by using an old proverb,
The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. (Ezekiel 18:2)
In short, “We’re suffering for our ancestors’ mistakes! Why should we be punished for their mistakes?”
But God clearly refutes this idea. He told them,
As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.
For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die. (Ezekiel 18:3–4)
In other words, while people may sometimes suffer from the sins of their parents (or others), each person is ultimately responsible for their own actions.
A person may be abused by their parents and suffer physically or emotionally from it. But how they respond to the sins of their parents is their own responsibility.
Will they continue in the sin of their parents or break away from it?
God then goes into a number of hypothetical questions.
He said, “Suppose a righteous man has a wicked son? Will the wicked son be deemed righteous because of his father?
“No. He will be punished for his own deeds, not blessed for his father’s.”
Then he said, “But imagine a wicked father has a son. The son sees all the wickedness that his father commits, but he himself turns from his father’s sin and lives righteously. Will I punish him for his father’s sin?
“Of course not. His father will die for his own sin. But the son will live.”
Then he brings up two other situations.
“Suppose a wicked man turns from his sin and does what is right? Will he still die? No, I will have mercy on him and forgive his sin. I will forget all the things of his past.”
But God says, “If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and starts doing evil, will he continue to live? No, he will die.”
We see this pattern throughout the history of Judah’s kings.
We have the man who turned from righteousness to do evil (Asa).
We have his son who turned from his father’s sin to do good and was blessed (Jehoshaphat).
We have Jehoshaphat’s son who turned from his father’s way to do evil (Jehoram).
We also have a king who had a good father, turned from his father’s way and did evil, and then repented (Manasseh).
What is God’s point? Why did he say all of this? The reason is found in his pleas with the people.
Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit.
Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! (Ezekiel 18:30–32)
In other words, “Take accountability for yourselves. Admit your own sin.
“Don’t blame anyone else for their sins. They will be held accountable for their sins, but you will be held accountable for yours. Instead of blaming other people for your troubles, repent from your sin.
“Ask me for a new heart and a new spirit, and I will give it. I don’t take pleasure in anyone’s death.”
Earlier in the passage, God added,
Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:23)
How about you? Are you blaming others for your own troubles? Are you blaming them for the consequences of your own sin?
It does no good to blame them, no matter how much they deserve it.
Instead, look within yourself. Look at your own sins. Repent of them.
And not only will God forgive you, he’ll restore you and make you new.
He’s waiting for you. What will you do?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 