Title: Responsibility and Repentance/Ezekiel 18
Content Responsibility and Repentance
Ezekiel 18
1. Misconceptions of the Israelites (1-4)
This paragraph emphasizes the existence of faith for those who believe that the present captivity was not due to their own sins, but to the sins of their ancestors.
① The part that reveals the present thoughts of the people of Israel (1-2)
② Jehovah’s answer (3-4)
In verse 2, the expression, “the father ate sour grapes, and the son’s teeth were set,” is the idea that the punishment for the father’s sins is passed on to the son. Based on this thought, they thought that their current situation was due to the faults of their ancestors. They claimed their innocence by misinterpreting the words of Exodus 20:5, “To pay for sins, from fathers to sons to the third and fourth generations.” But this means that if the descendants commit the same sins as their fathers and do not repent, they will. God never punishes the innocent, but judges good and evil according to their deeds.
2. Several cases (5-29)
① When the person in question lives a righteous life (5-9)
If a person lives a righteous life and follows the ordinances and ordinances of the Lord, he should possess God's blessings. God never forsakes and saves those who try to get rid of injustice by sharing faith with their neighbors. This fact strongly emphasizes the present side of faith and urges each to lead a righteous life.
② In the case of evil children who have fathers of righteous people (10-13)
Ezekiel first emphasizes that just because the father lived a righteous life, naturally, the son cannot live a righteous life either. It also asserts that the blessings that come from the righteous life of the father do not extend to the wicked son. It shows that faith depends on God and on the existential decisions of each individual. A father's good works cannot pay for his children's sins, and he must bear the responsibility for his sins.
③ In the case of righteous children of evil fathers (14-20)
The author says that no matter how evil a father may be, if his son lived a righteous life, he would be blessed because of his righteousness. In fact, the Jewish proverb that the father's sins are passed on to the children is ignorant of God's justice, and children who do good sustain their lives because of their work.
④ If we do not save those who repent and live a righteous life now, we will inevitably perish (21-29)
After setting various circumstances and correcting the people's wrong consciousness, Ezekiel urges them to realize their sin and turn to the Lord. It clearly teaches that the only way for the captives of Israel to live is to abandon the idea that they will be paid for their sins because of their father's sins, turn away from the present evil, repent and return.
3. Calling for Repentance (30-32)
① The justification for repentance (30)
Ezekiel insists that we must repent because God judges each person according to their deeds. Ezekiel urges the Israelites to restore their spiritual consciousness of God. Remembering the eschatological judgment, the people of Israel are demanding full repentance and correction of their evil deeds.
② Method of Repentance (31-32)
The outward form of repentance is a transformed life, but it is the inward transformation that makes a transformed life possible. That is, true repentance can be achieved only when the heart and spirit are newly changed. God gives us a new heart and a new spirit to lead us to full repentance.