I want to begin our message this morning by bringing an awareness of a modern-day proposal that is being floated in our local, state, and federal governments, and then tie that in to what Ezekiel has to say in our passage. Across our nation, people are talking about something called “reparations.” Back around 2020, there was a House Bill (H.R. 40) to form a commission of 13 members to “document the evils of slavery and discrimination, then recommend appropriate remedies, including paying money to the descendants of slaves.” Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, the Episcopal bishop of Maryland, urged congress to pass this bill, stating that Americans must “offer atonement.”
Our country has indeed committed terrible atrocities against many different ethnic groups. But when we look at the Bible, can we back up this idea of reparations? Can we justify making the people of today pay for the sins of their forefathers? We know that reparations and paying for our ancestor’s crimes is what people think should happen, but what does God think? What does a biblical perspective look like? Ezekiel looks at this question from the opposite direction. If we find ourselves in a situation where we are paying reparations, or to put it in the words of Rev. Sutton, “offering atonement” and being punished, is it because of the sins of our forefathers that this is happening to us? Well, let us get started answering this question by looking at verses 1-4.
Blaming Our Problems on Our Ancestors’ Sins (vv. 1-4)
1 The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, 2 “What do you mean when you 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 As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.”
So, we see here a proverb: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” They were saying, “We are being punished for our parents’ sins.” You could also see this as saying, “Our life is bad, because of what our ancestors did.” Is there any truth to this sour grapes proverb? Can we be punished for the sins of our forefathers? Or, should we be punished for the sins of our forefathers? You hear both notions being presented today. On the one side, people are saying, “Our lot in life is so bad, because of what the people in the past did,” and then on the flip side, “Because of what people did in the past, their descendants deserve a bad lot in life, and deserve to be punished; and so, we must make sure they get what they deserve!”
Theologically speaking, can people be punished for their parents’ sins? And should they be? This question brings us to the doctrine of “original sin.” Original sin refers to the very first sin of the very first father in history; and that father was Adam. According to the apostle Paul, his sin affected the entire human race, resulting in condemnation coming to all people. Romans 5:18 says, “Through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation.” If we view this verse alone, without looking at verse 19, we might conclude that all people are being punished for what Adam did.
Biblically and theologically, we need to understand that Adam’s punishment was not deferred and transferred to other generations. Adam was expediently punished for his own sin when he and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3). That is what the expulsion from the Garden of Eden was all about. It was punishment. Adam and Eve could no longer live at ease in paradise, but they had to suffer a grueling existence fighting the elements. It should also be noted that Adam was not punished for Eve’s sin or vice versa; they were each punished for their own individual crimes (Gen. 3:13-19).
The effects of sin that we experience today is not us being punished for Adam and Eve. Listen as I read from both Romans 5:18 and 19: “Through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation . . . For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Did you catch that part about how people were made sinners? What was passed on from Adam to us is the sinful nature. What we inherited from the first man and woman is the tendency to sin, not some kind of punishment. And when we sin as individuals, we are punished for the sin that we ourselves have committed, not for what someone else did.
In Ezekiel 18:4, God declared, “Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.” The Lord declares that “the soul who sins shall die.” Death comes only to the individual who has committed the sin. God does not say, “The grandchildren or great grandchildren of the soul who sins shall die.” Now, the remainder of this chapter shares some case studies to illustrate how God holds individuals accountable for their own sins. For the sake of time, let us now skip down and look at verses 14-20.
We Are Not Punished for Our Ancestors’ Sins (vv. 14-20)
14 If, however, he begets a son who sees all the sins which his father has done, and considers but does not do likewise; 15 who has not eaten on the mountains, nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor defiled his neighbor’s wife; 16 has not oppressed anyone, nor withheld a pledge, nor robbed by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing; 17 who has withdrawn his hand from the poor and not received usury or increase, but has executed My judgments and walked in My statutes – He shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live!
18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother by violence, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity. 19 Yet you say, “Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?” Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
Immediately preceding this passage, back in verses 10-13, we find the example of an evil man and his specific attributes. One thing pointed out is that an evil man is someone who sheds blood and oppresses others (10, 12). Well, committing someone to slavery is a form of oppression. Verses 14-20 ask, “If this evil man has a son, and this child grows up to realize that his father has acted in an evil manner, and so the son decides not to become evil, will the son die for his father’s sins?” The answer is “NO.” The father will die for his evil, and the child will live for his righteousness.
So, let us suppose that we have researched our family history and discovered that our ancestors did some terrible things. According to what we read here, if the evil man has a son who grows up, and the son does not oppress anyone (v. 16), “he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live” (v. 17). The father may have oppressed people, but as long as the son does not follow in his father’s footsteps, then the son is free from making reparations or restitution. So, if we had ancestors who did bad things, then as long as we refuse to do likewise, as long as we abhor and condemn what they did, and as long as we personally do not oppress other people, then we are not supposed to be punished – at least that’s how God sees it. Let us now skip down to verses 26-28.
If We Act Justly, We Are Spared Punishment (vv. 26-28)
26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies. 27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. 28 Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
Our country is kind of like the wicked man in verse 27, which turns away from his wickedness, and does what is lawful and right. We are making great strides at doing what is right by working toward racial equality. No, we have not fully arrived, and we are not perfect, but we are heading in the right direction.
The same can be said of those who give their lives to Christ. God no longer sees our sins, because they are covered by the blood of Jesus; however, there are times we still mess up. We are not perfect, but we strive for righteousness, and that is what God expects. We read here that “when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive” (v. 27). What we need to understand is that God does not punish an individual after he repents. We also need to understand that God requires “repentance,” not restitution or reparations? Repentance is a turning away from sin and going a different; a more righteous direction. When “a wicked man turns away” or repents, “he preserves himself alive.”
Our nation has been on a long journey of turning away from wickedness, and I believe that God is pleased with our efforts. But if we revert, then we are in big trouble! But we haven’t reverted. We keep pressing ahead; and yet, people are claiming that we are a nation that, not only needs to make reparations, but needs to be condemned and torn down! Those who are saying such things do not have a biblical worldview, and they know nothing about forgiveness and grace. They only know about hate and destruction.
Grace is the reason why we don’t have to make reparations or restitution “spiritually.” You see, Jesus paid the price. There is a price for sin; not for “the collective,” but for “the individual.” Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” The payment or reparations for sin is death. Our very life is required as payment; but Jesus gave His life instead. Romans 5:18 says, “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” The “free gift,” or the grace of God, is the forgiveness of sin, and it came at an extremely high price. This gift came by way of His “righteous act” (5:18), or His act of payment.
In the book of Acts, Paul said that Christ “purchased [us] with His own blood” (20:28). In another place he mentioned how “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3), and that “when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6). The price for our forgiveness and redemption unto God was Jesus’ death. The Bible says that everyone is supposed to die for his or her sins (Rom 6:23); however, Christ stepped in and took our place in death. He took the penalty on Himself, so that those who believe in Him (Rom 10:9) would not have to perish. God does not require payment from us if we will just accept the free gift of His Son. So, if God does not expect payment when people demonstrate repentance, then why should we expect payment? Let us continue by looking at verses 29-32.
True Justice Comes by Way of Forgiveness (vv. 29-32)
29 Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is not fair.” O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair? 30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord GOD. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord GOD. Therefore, turn and live!
In Ezekiel chapter 18, the Lord has been saying, “You are held individually responsible for your actions. If you are down on your luck, if bad things are happening, if life is not turning out the way you had hoped, then you might want to look in the mirror. Perhaps the problem is you. You might be living in sin. Maybe you are making bad choices and reaping the consequences.” People are always blaming someone else for their problems, wanting free handouts.
The Israelites were wanting a free spiritual handout, or a free pass to keep on living in sin, while blaming their forefathers for their problems. And when God confronted them through the prophet Ezekiel, they cried out, “It’s not fair!” I mean, how many times have we heard that! God says, “Is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?” But, let me ask you from a Christian point of view, “Is demanding reparations from innocent people fair?” – innocent people, as in descendants who had nothing to do with the original crime. And what is this really about? Reconciliation or revenge? Healing or handouts? None of this leads to reconciliation and healing; but rather, it leads to a deeper divide. Forgiveness is the only road to healing.
Praise be to God that He is not trying to collect the debt from us! And praise be to God that He is the one who judges us, and not people! The Lord declares, “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways” (v. 30) – his own individual ways, I must emphasize. We read in Romans 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” When we seek revenge, it is because we think that we know the best course of punishment. All we have got to do is look at the violent measures that people are taking in our country right now, to realize that we are in trouble when we leave the punishment up to people.
Punishment, restitution, and reparations, if it is truly required, must be “determined by God” and “exacted by God,” and God alone. But I can tell you right now, that if someone has confessed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, there will be no “spiritual reparations” required. God does not ask us to pay to receive the forgiveness of our sins, because Jesus paid it all!
So, do you want to know where forgiveness and reconciliation starts? It begins by “get[ting] yourselves a new heart and a new spirit” (v. 31), tearing down those hardened and bitter walls, and by taking a hard look at ourselves and casting off our own transgressions (v. 32), because none of us is perfect. We are all sinners in need of forgiveness. In realizing that we too are fallible and sinful, we can extend compassion, grace and forgiveness towards those who have wronged us personally, and towards those whose ancestors might have mistreated our ancestors. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be . . . forgiving [of] one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”
Forgiveness is the only thing that leads to reconciliation, both interpersonally and spiritually. In Romans 5:8 and 10 we read, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us . . . For . . . when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [and] much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” In 2 Corinthians 5:8 we are told, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Time of Reflection
Perhaps people think you have to atone for your sins by groveling, or by paying out monetary reparations, or by doing good works. But that is man’s way; not God’s way. You can’t buy or work your way into heaven. In Ephesians 2:8-9, we read, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The only way to be forgiven of our sins, and thus receive eternal life in heaven, is through God’s grace – through His free gift (for that is what the word grace means; it is a gift). God wants us to both receive His gift, and extend it to others by showing mercy, compassion and forgiveness for the sins they have committed against God and the crimes they have committed against us.
Grace is not free to flow until we accept individual responsibility and quit blaming others. Spiritually speaking, we have to own up to our sins, confess them to God, and repent (or rather, turn away from sin) if we ever hope to be forgiven and receive eternal life. Physically speaking, we might need to take a good look at ourselves, and possibly own up to the fact that our life has been hard because of our own personal choices, and not because of what someone else did to us. Then we might just realize that we don’t need to be blaming others. Or, if someone else has done us wrong, perhaps offering them forgiveness is better than hate. In fact, I know it is, because so many people find themselves trapped in their own self-created prison of bitterness, always feeling like a victim.
Maybe we feel like the chains of slavery and racism need to be broken; but the chains that we really need to be concerned about are the spiritual chains of bondage brought about by sin. Paul declared, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” If you have never confessed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, or if you feel yourself burdened with hatred and bitterness, then you need to know that you are held in bondage. You are not experiencing the freedom that Paul spoke about. But if you will come to Jesus, confess your sins to Him, and ask His forgiveness, then He will break every chain.
