10/12/2007
Ezekiel 18:1 - 4 (HCSB)
1The
word of the LORD came to me: 2“What
do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel:
The
fathers eat sour grapes,
and
the children’s teeth are set on edge?
3As I live”—ëthis isû the declaration of the Lord GOD—“you will no longer use this proverb in Israel. 4Look, every life belongs to Me. The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die.
Ezekiel 18:20 (HCSB)
20The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won’t suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity, and a father won’t suffer punishment for the son’s iniquity. The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.
Have you ever eaten something bitter or tart and had the uncontrollable need to pucker? That is the reference here: that the fathers have eaten something sour but their children feel the need to pucker. In other words, the fathers have sinned and the children suffer for it.
The saying was apparently an old proverb among the Jews because Jeremiah also references the same proverb. But God challenges this proverb. The reason is, the Jews were saying that they had been brought into exile because of their fathers’ sin – not their own. God refutes this and clearly says that they are in exile because of their own sin.
Aren’t we like that sometimes -- Like the kid sitting in time-out sulking that “it wasn’t our fault”?
The fact of the matter is that God will judge us each according to our own actions and our own hearts. This does not mean that hardships will not come to us, but it means that we should be careful to examine our own lives for sin and we should concentrate on keeping ourselves right with God.
The reference in this passage to “living” or “dieing” is an allegory to the coming judgment. We need to be sensitive to fact that we will be held accountable at the judgment seat. At that time, life and death are eternally significant.
Take the time today to look at your life. What needs to be changed so that you will be found faithful?
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2007 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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