The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, 2 what is the meaning of this proverb you recite in the land of Israel: “Parents eat sour grapes, but the children’s teeth are set on edge”? 3 As I live—oracle of the Lord God: I swear that none of you will ever repeat this proverb in Israel. 4 For all life is mine: the life of the parent is like the life of the child, both are mine. Only the one who sins shall die! 5 If a man is just—if he does what is right, 6 if he does not eat on the mountains, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile a neighbor’s wife, or have relations with a woman during her period; 7 if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; 8 if he does not lend at interest or exact usury; if he refrains from evildoing and makes a fair judgment between two opponents; 9 if he walks by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is just—he shall surely live—oracle of the Lord God . 10 But if he begets a son who is violent and commits murder, or does any of these things, 11 even though the father does none of them—a son who eats on the mountains, defiles the wife of his neighbor, 12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not give back a pledge, raises his eyes to idols, does abominable things, 13 lends at interest and exacts usury—this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely be put to death; his own blood shall be on him. 14 But, in turn, if he begets a son who sees all the sins his father commits, yet fears and does not imitate him— 15 a son who does not eat on the mountains, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile a neighbor’s wife; 16 who does not oppress anyone, or exact a pledge, or commit robbery; who gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked; 17 who refrains from evildoing, accepts no interest or usury, but keeps my ordinances and walks in my statutes—this one shall not die for the sins of his father. He shall surely live! 18 Only the father, since he committed extortion and robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people—he will die because of his sin! 19 You ask: “Why is not the son charged with the guilt of his father?” Because the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to observe all my statutes—he shall surely live! 20 Only the one who sins shall die. The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. Justice belongs to the just, and wickedness to the wicked.
The prophet Ezekiel elaborated on individual responsibility for one’s actions and the consequences of sin. When Yahweh gave the Commandments to the Israelites through Moses in Exodus, the First Commandment contained the following warning: “I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their ancestors’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation (Ex. 20:5; 34:7).” God was prohibiting the worshipping of false gods and told the Israelites that he would punish the descendants of those who hate him for many generations. Since God is a just judge (Ps. 7:12) he would not punish descendants for their ancestors’ sins. However, the effects of idolatry and disobedience can last for generations as it did with the Babylonian Captivity 598 BCE – 538 BCE.
God posed a question to Ezekiel about a common proverb. The proverb suggested that the children of Israel were being punished because of the sins of their fathers. God told Ezekiel that the Israelites should no longer quote that proverb because each individual is responsible for his own sins (Deut. 24:16). All life is in God’s hands so a parent and a child are both accountable to God and will face the consequences of their actions. If a just man keeps the moral and ritual demands of the Law, does what is right, is charitable, and treats others fairly, and if he avoids idolatry, sexual immorality, and other sinful practices, he will find favor with God and will live.
If a just father has a sinful son who does not keep the moral and ritual demands of the Law and whose abominable lifestyle and actions are the opposite of his father’s, the son will face the consequences of his own choices and he will die. But if a sinful father has a son who witnessed his father’s sinful behavior yet chooses to lead a just life, he shall not die for the sins of his father, but he will live. God’s justice is based on individual behavior. God also provides the opportunity for repentance and salvation to those who turn away from sin and live according to his commands.
Almighty God, grant us the grace to follow your precepts and live the Gospel in accordance with his teaching. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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