WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday August 16, 2015
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A
CALL FOR REPENTANCE
(The
justice of a righteous GOD)
(Ezekiel
18)
In Ezekiel 18 the prophet Ezekiel receives yet another message from
GOD, this time regarding HIS sovereignty and righteousness in judgment, and how
we are all, as individuals, responsible for our own actions and behavior. In
chapters 15-17 Ezekiel had already delivered three other messages, or parables
that were designed to convict the nation of Judah of her sins against GOD. Here
in this chapter, the prophet’s message returns to the bluntness necessary to
drive home to Judah, their personal, individual responsibility for their own
iniquities.
He begins this chapter with a proverb that must have been very
familiar to Israel, because it had also been quoted by the prophet Jeremiah,
just a few years earlier (Jeremiah 31:29). Here GOD asks Ezekiel about this
proverb since it had been circulating among the Israelites for some time now.
The proverb states that, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their
children’s mouths pucker at the taste” (Ezekiel 18:2 - NLT).
The point of this proverb was that, the children of Israel
believed that they were suffering because of the sins of their parents. In
other words, the Israelites felt that GOD was punishing them because of the
sins of their ancestors, and not because of any fault of their own, and this of
course, was ridiculous. In fact, the very thought of this proverb depicts GOD
as being “unjust”. GOD saw a great need to refute this false doctrine, and so
HE called it to the attention of HIS prophet Ezekiel. Like most false doctrine,
a trace of truth is used in order to make it sound plausible, and this
particular proverb was no exception.
In the “Decalogue” (Ten Commandments) of GOD’s Word (Exodus 20:5,
34:6-7, & Deuteronomy 5:9), we see a few examples of where GOD talks about
punishing the children of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of
those who hate HIM. However, the whole point of these passages is that “the
effects of sin are serious and long-lasting”, not that GOD punishes the
innocent for their ancestors evils literally. There is always a chance that our
iniquities and mistakes will affect others at some future date, but that
backlash lies with us as responsible human beings, not with GOD. GOD gives us
wills that are free (freedom of choice), and our choices always, invariably,
will affect someone else, be they family members or not, in the future.
Here in this passage, GOD presents us three hypothetical case
examples to show how we as individuals are responsible for our own choices in
life:
·
In
case number one HE presents to us, the example of a righteous man who does what
is lawful and right under GOD. He does not worships idols, or engage in
forbidden sexual activities such as adultery, homosexuality, etc. He is
merciful to his creditors, does not rob the poor, he gives food to the hungry
and provides clothing to those in need. He gives loans without interest, stays
away from injustice, and faithfully considers at all times, what is right by
GOD. This particular person is just, and will be honored, and be allowed to
live with GOD in eternity.
·
In
case number two GOD presents us with another supposition. Suppose the son of
that same righteous man grew up to be a robber, or a murderer and just refuses
to do right, in fact, he does exactly the opposite of the father. Should such a
sinful person go unpunished because of the reputation of his father? No! GOD
says, that person must be punished according to his own iniquities, and not
spared because of his father’s righteous behavior.
·
In
the third case scenario GOD says, “Suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son,
who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of lifestyle for
himself”. He, instead, chooses to live the righteous lifestyle of his
grandfather. That son will not be punished because of his father’s sins, but
rather will be blessed as his grandfather was. And bear in mind, it is not
because of his grandfather’s righteous choices and decisions that he is
blessed, but rather, it will be because he himself personally made the right
choices under GOD.
When we blame others for our faults and misfortunes, we inevitably
deny our own guilt, and, through “human ingenuity”, claim innocence and
perfection, that, in our own minds, justify our sinful behavior against GOD. In
this passage of scripture, GOD is clearly saying in no uncertain terms, that,
“the person who sins is the person who pays the consequences”, not our
children, and, not anyone else.
Every human being has to make an account for the deeds done in his
or her lifetime. GOD will judge each of us according to our own actions, good
or bad, and so we must turn away from our sins and be drawn instead to the more
GODly things in life, lest we allow our sins to destroy us. We have to put our
rebellious ways behind us, in order that we may grasp and obtain “a new heart”
(new GODly way of thinking), and “a new SPIRIT” (new GODly influence), walking
in “the newness of life”, that is, CHRIST JESUS. When we make the right and
GODly decisions, GOD’s mercy towards us will “win out” over HIS judgment
against us (James 2:13b).
GOD does not wish to see any of us perish by permanently
separating ourselves from HIM through our sins. Instead, HE wishes for us live
eternally with HIM through our new found relationship with CHRIST JESUS. GOD
does not enjoy punishing us for sins, but rather HE relishes in the thought
that we will choose to be blessed by HIM for our obedience.
GOD’s wish has always been that all men will be saved by their
freedom to choose CHRIST JESUS over the lure of satan, who wishes for us to
lose our hearts to the temporal pleasures of this world, and thereby, follow
him into the pits of Hell.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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