The Word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, concerning a proverb that was popular in Israel.
What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:
Ezekiel 18:2 (NKJV)
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
The meaning of this proverb is that “We suffer because of our parents. It’s not our fault.”
God tells Ezekiel that the people of Israel must no longer use that proverb. All souls belong to God, and He will judge each person according to the way they personally live.
If someone lives a sinful life, that person alone will die a spiritual death for their own sin. But if a person lives justly and acts in a lawful and righteous manner, they will live.
5 “Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right. 6 He does not feast in the mountains before Israel’s idols or worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period. 7 He is a merciful creditor, not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy. 8 He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others, 9 and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign Lord.
EZEKIEL 18:5-13 (NLT)
10 “But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right. 11 And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery, 12 oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins, 13 and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.
God is correcting the Israelites’ mistaken belief that the righteousness of an ancestor could protect a descendant, allowing them to be justified or have their sin reduced. Others believed the opposite, that because their ancestor had lived sinfully, they were doomed to judgement regardless of their own actions, so they saw no point in living righteously and continued in their sin.
God rejects both ideas. He teaches that each individual will be judged by their own actions. The deeds of the father do not condemn or save the son, and the deeds of the son do not affect the father. So the Israelites should not use the earlier proverb to avoid responsibility of their own sins, blame the previous generations or justify ongoing rebellion.
The Israelites possibly may have thought this from the scripture given in Exodus 20:5-6 that says:
… For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exodus 20:5-6 (nkjv)
Ezekiel 18 directly challenges the wrong belief and misunderstanding of that scripture. Guilt is not automatically inherited. Ezekiel’s teaching doesn’t contradict Exodus it explains it:
- God judges your own choices, not someone else’s.
- You do not inherit guilt.
- You can inherit patterns.
Exodus 20:5-6
- Warns that sin tends to repeat in families and communities.
- Judgement continues only if each generation keeps hating God.
- Blessing flows through generations who love God.
Ezekiel 18
- Corrects the false belief that judgement is automatic or inescapable.
- Teaches personal responsibility: God judges each person individually.
So in summary you are ultimately responsible for your actions and can choose to live a life of sin or righteousness.
Stay blessed
Faith With Petra 