Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Ezekiel-Chapter 18

Ezek 18.1-32 tells us about a delusion the people had about God visiting the sins of the fathers upon innocent descendants. The error of this belief is brought out and the truth set forth. People bear the guilt and punishment for their own sins. They misunderstood Exo 34.7. They said if they were going to be punished for the sins of their fathers, why keep the Torah. But Yehovah said in Exo 20.5 “on the children who hate me” and continue to walk in the sinful ways of their fathers. He then gives examples in v 3-32.

v 1…Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

v 2…”What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel saying, “The fathers eat sour grapes, but the children’s teeth are set on edge?’

v 3…As I live,” declares the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore (judgment was not going to be put off, so there would be no reason to use it).

v 4…Behold (take note), all souls are mine (by creation-Heb 12.9); the soul (nefesh) of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine. The soul who sins will die (Deut 24.16).

v 5…But if a man is righteous (by faith) and practices justice and righteousness (as defined by the Torah; he will be drawn to the Torah and will want to keep it as a way of life-Hab 2.4),

v 6…and does not eat at the mountain (shrines-Deut 12.2) or lift up his eyes (to look at with trust) to the idols of the house of Israel; or defile his neighbor’s wife (Exo 20.14; Lev 20.10), or approach a woman during her menstrual period (Lev 18.19, 20.18-called a “niddah”)

v 7…If a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge (Exo 22.28; Lev 15.14, 17; Exo 22.25; Deut 24.6, 10), does not commit robbery (taking unlawful possession of property), gives his bread to the hungry (Isa 58.5; Matt 25.26; Jam 2.15), and covers the naked with clothing,

v 8…if he does not lend money on interest or take increase (Deut 23.20; Exo 22.24), if he keeps his hand from iniquity (and promotes truth), executes true justice between man and man (a sentence in line with the true facts of a case),

v 9…if he walks in my statutes and my ordinances (as found and applicable in the Torah) so as to deal faithfully (as required by the Torah)-he is righteous (by faith and the evidence of things not seen is his compliance with the Torah-Heb 11.1; if he has justification by faith he will do these things-Hab 2.4) and will surely live (Deut 30.6),” declares the Lord God.

v 10…Then he may have (beget) a violent (Hebrew “paritz” and related to the word “poretz” meaning breachmaker. He breaks the barriers of propriety) son who sheds blood, and who does any of these things to a brother,

v 11…though he himself did not do any of these things (that the righteous do), that is, he even eats at the mountain (shrines) and defiles his neighbor’s wife;

v 12…oppresses the poor and needy (the weak), commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes (to look at with trust) to the idols and commits abominations (he has no regard for the needs of others),

v 13…he lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head (the righteousness of the father does not protect the wicked son-he is responsible).

v 14…Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he has committed, and observing does not do likewise (he proves to be a good man and does not walk in the sins of his father).

v 15…He does not eat at the mountain (shrines) or lift up his eyes (to look at with trust) to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife,

v 16…or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, and covers the naked with clothing,

v 17…he keeps his hand from the poor (does not harm them), does not take interest or increase, but executes my ordinances, and walks in my statutes (found in the Torah), he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live (you don’t have to be unrighteous just because your father was).

v 18…As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold (see), he will die for his iniquity (it’s on his own head).

v 19…Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity (in line with the proverb of v 2-this would make them feel better because they could blame their problems and condition on their fathers, “its inherited”)? When the son has practiced justice and righteousness, and has observed all my statutes and done them, he shall surely live (on the basis of what was just revealed).

v 20…The person who sins shall die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself (so you will have nobody to blame but yourself; each will account for themselves; Yehovah does not transfer the sins and the guilt from one to another-Prov 17.15, 26; Deut 24.16; 2 Chr 25.4).

v 21…But if the wicked man turns (“shuv” and the root for “teshuvah” meaning repentance) from all his sins which he has committed and observes all my statutes and practices justice and righteousness (as defined by the Torah), he shall surely live; he shall not die (he will be dealt with according to his new status).

v 22…All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him (not be mentioned again); because of his righteousness (the evidence of his new life-Heb 11.1) which he has practiced, he shall live.

v 23…Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways (wicked as defined by the Torah) and live (this more acceptable and preferred)?

v 24…But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live (a person who merely professes conversion, but really isn’t born again. This person is described in Matt 7.21-23; 2 Pet 2.20-22. He has a moral reformation, but not a genuine conversion. Yehovah’s life and righteousness is eternal-2 Cor 5.17; John 3.15-16, 36, 10.28)? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered (won’t save him) for his treachery which he has committed, for them he will die.

v 25…Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord (Yehovah) is not right (not measurable by any absolute standard).’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is my way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right (they do not measure up to the standard of his expectations in the Torah)?

v 26…When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness (repeated from v 24 to get it into their heads), commits iniquity, and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die.

v 27…Again, when a wicked man turns way from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life (this guy here has true repentance, quickened by the Ruach Ha Kodesh. His turning away from sin is the result not the cause of his spiritual change).

v 28…Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die (proving God’s procedure was just).

v 29…But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are my ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

v 30…Therefore, I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct (not his faith),” declares the Lord God. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity (intentional due to a weakness) may not become a stumbling block to you (your ruin).

v 31…Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit (a Hebrew parallelism-not in the sense of a regenerated heart or spirit by the Spirit of God, but said to convince them of their need for one, the importance of it. Chessed (grace) is the means by which people have it, resulting in a “fearing” heart to serve and worship God, not idols. Heart, mind, soul and spirit are synonymous in Hebrew thought meaning intentions, desires and thought).

v 32…For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies (Luke 12.49-50; Psa 116.15; John 3.16),” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live (this is God’s “will of command”, or what he would like to see happen. Then we have the “will of decree” which is what the Lord ordains, makes or allows to happen to bring about a greater issue. God commands that people repent, but then decrees that their eyes be blind to the truth so they can’t repent-see Matt 13.10-17. For example, Moses was told to tell Pharaoh to “Let my people go” but then hardens his heart so he won’t. Yehovah tells the world to repent of their sins according to his will of command, but according to his will of decree only saves some. There are many examples of the will of command and the will of decree. For more information on this concept go to “The Sovereignty of God and the Elect”, Part 4, on this website).”

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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