Each Person Is Responsible for Their Own Life
Study note
The exiles had a popular proverb: 'The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.' They meant they were being punished for their ancestors' sins, not their own. God flatly rejected this idea. Every person belongs to God, and every person is responsible for their own choices. The person who sins is the one who will face the consequences.
1 The Lord spoke to me again. The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
2 "Why do you keep saying this about Israel? 'The parents eat sour grapes, but the children get the stomach pain.'" 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?
3 "I swear on my life, says the Lord God, you will never have reason to use that proverb in Israel again." As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
4 "Every person alive belongs to me -- the parent and the child both belong to me equally. Only the person who sins will face the consequences of death." 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.
The Righteous Father
Study note
God described a righteous man who does what is fair and right. He does not worship idols, does not commit adultery, does not oppress anyone, returns what he has borrowed, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, does not charge interest on loans, and follows God's laws. This person will surely live. The list covers both religious duties and social justice.
5 "Consider a man who lives an honest and upright life." But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
6 "He refuses to participate in pagan feasts on the mountains or pray to Israel's idols. He does not sleep with his neighbor's wife or with a woman during her monthly period." And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
7 "He does not take advantage of anyone. He gives back whatever a borrower left as a guarantee. He does not steal. He shares his food with the hungry and gives clothing to those who need it." And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
8 "He does not charge interest on loans or demand extra payment. He stays away from wrongdoing. When disputes arise, he judges fairly between people." He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
9 "He lives by my rules and faithfully follows my laws. That man is righteous, and he will certainly live, says the Lord God." Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
The Wicked Son
Study note
If this righteous man has a son who does the opposite, who is violent, oppresses the poor, worships idols, and charges unfair interest, the son will die for his own sins. The father's righteousness will not save him. Each generation makes its own choices.
10 "But what if that good man has a violent son? The son kills people. He does sins that the father never did." If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
11 "This son feasts at pagan mountaintop shrines and sleeps with his neighbor's wife." And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,
12 "He exploits the poor and vulnerable. He steals from others. He refuses to return borrowed security. He turns to idols for help and commits disgusting acts." Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
13 "He charges interest on loans and demands unfair profit. Should someone like this be allowed to live? Certainly not! He has done all these revolting things, so he will certainly die. His blood will be on his own hands." Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
The Righteous Grandson
Study note
If the wicked son in turn has a son who sees his father's sins and chooses not to follow them, this grandson will live. He will not die for his father's sins. The father who was violent and oppressive will die for his own sins, but the son who chose a different path will live.
14 "Now That wicked man has a son. The son sees his father's sinful life. He thinks it over. Then he picks a whole new path." 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,
15 "This son stays away from pagan mountaintop feasts and does not chase after Israel's idols. He does not sleep with his neighbor's wife." That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
16 "He does not exploit anyone or hold on to borrowed collateral. He does not steal. He feeds the hungry and clothes those who have nothing." Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
17 "He avoids mistreating the poor. He does not charge interest or demand extra profit. He follows my laws and lives by my rules. This son will not die for his father's sins. He will certainly live." That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
18 "As for his father, who cheated and robbed others and did terrible things to his own people — he will die for his own sins." As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
God's Desire Is for All to Repent
Study note
God addressed the people's objection directly. They asked why a good son should not share his father's punishment. God explained his principle of individual responsibility clearly. A wicked person who turns from sin and does right will live, and none of their past sins will be held against them. But a righteous person who turns to evil will die. God does not enjoy anyone's death. He pleads with the people to turn back and live. He tells them to get a new heart and a new spirit.
19 "But you keep asking, 'Why should the son not share in the father's punishment?' Here is why: the son has lived a fair and upright life and has carefully obeyed all my rules, so he will certainly live." 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.
20 "The individual who sins is the one who dies. A child does not carry a parent's guilt, and a parent does not carry a child's guilt. The goodness of a righteous person is credited to them, and the wickedness of an evil person falls on them." 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.
21 "But if a wicked person walks away from their sins, they will live. They must start to obey my rules. They must live fairly and rightly. They will not die." But 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.
22 "Not one of their past sins will be counted against them. They will live because of the righteous choices they have made." All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23 "Do I get any pleasure from watching wicked people die? asks the Lord God. Of course not! What I want is for them to change direction and live." Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24 "But if a righteous person abandons their good behavior and turns to sin, copying the revolting things the wicked do, should they be allowed to live? No! Every good thing they ever did will be forgotten. They will die because of the sin and unfaithfulness they chose." But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25 "Yet you claim, 'The Lord is not being fair!' Think about it, Israel. Is it truly my way that is unfair, or is it your ways that are unfair?" Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26 "When a righteous person abandons their good ways and turns to sin, they will die because of it. Their sin will cause their death." When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27 "And when a wicked person turns away from their wicked ways and starts living an honest and fair life, they save their own life." Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28 "Because they stopped, reflected, and walked away from all their sins, they will certainly live instead of dying." Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29 "Yet the Israelites keep insisting, 'The Lord is not fair!' Truly, Israel? Is it my ways that are unfair, or yours?" Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30 "So here is the final word, people of Israel: I will judge every one of you based on your own individual actions, says the Lord God. Change direction! Turn away from all your sins before they drag you down to ruin." Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 "Throw off every sin you have been carrying, and get yourselves a new heart and a fresh spirit. Why would you choose to die, people of Israel?" Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 "I get no satisfaction from anyone's death, says the Lord God. So turn around and live!" For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.