Topic(s): Sin, God's Will, Family

Bob Prichard

The consequences of sin are far reaching. When a person says, “My sin doesn’t effect anyone but me,” he is almost always wrong. Children or other family members often pay a higher price than the actual sinner pays. That the child suffers because of the sins of the father does not, however, mean that God curses families because of those sins. The disciples of Jesus asked Him, concerning a man born blind, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:1-3). The disciples reflected a common misconception of the day, and assumed that the man’s misfortune was the result of sin, either by his parents or himself. Neither had sinned, though, “but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Jesus then healed the man, who recognized Jesus as the Son of God.

During Ezekiel’s day, there were those who were trying to blame God and their fathers for the problems they faced. “The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel” (Ezekiel 18:1-3). The Lord would not allow this excuse for their sins.

The Lord rewards and punishes according to the deeds of the individual. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right . . . Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 18:4-5, 9). On the other hand, “If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things . . . shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:10, 13).

The son makes his own choices: “Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like . . . hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live” (Ezekiel 18:14, 17). “Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:19-20). There is hope. “If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die” (Ezekiel 18:21). God is a merciful God, who wants to forgive us.