Today\u2019s study concerns the changing of the law by the Lord to make people accountable for their own sins instead of the sins of their fathers. Whenever there is a change in the law, there is resistance to the change as we naturally resist change. The people of Israel thought that the way of the Lord is not just in regard to people bearing their own sins. They preferred the situation where the fathers\u2019 sins are borne by their children. As a result of their resistance to change, the people of Israel were surely going to be judged. The chapter concludes by giving us insight into the benefits of the Lord\u2019s judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n Eze 18:1\u00a0 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,<\/b> The proverb \u201cThe fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children\u2019s teeth are on edge\u201d became a regularly used proverb in Israel because of the following scriptures:<\/span><\/p>\n Exo 20:5\u00a0 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God <\/span>am<\/span><\/i> a jealous God, <\/span>visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth <\/b>generation<\/i><\/b> of them that hate me;\u00a0<\/b> Exo 34:6\u00a0 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,\u00a0<\/span> In these verses, the Lord was demonstrating to the people of Israel that their iniquities have consequences on their children. As you can see, the Lord gave this rule when He was delivering the ten commandments to Moses. This means that this rule was an integral part of the Law of Moses. As we are aware, the purpose of the Law was to expose sin, but the Law did not have what it takes to change our behavior. Therefore, the rampant use of this proverb suggests to us that the people of Israel have resigned themselves to the fact that they cannot help themselves in hurting their beloved ones (children) through their actions.<\/span><\/p>\n Rom 7:7\u00a0 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! <\/span>Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.<\/b> For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, \u201cYou shall not covet.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rom 7:21\u00a0 <\/span>I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.\u00a0<\/b> Deu 5:28\u00a0 And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.\u00a0<\/span> Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children upon the third and fourth generation signifies that when we are dominated by our old man or the flesh, we are not different from our fathers. In other words, we are not different from the people of Israel in terms of their propensity to disobey the Lord since we are all of the flesh or the old man. The number three means becoming spiritually mature through the process of judgment. This implies that it is as we go through the process of judgment to become spiritually mature (third generation) that the iniquity of our fathers (the old man) is no longer relevant in our lives. The fourth generation mentioned symbolizes that the whole of the Lord\u2019s elect have to go through suffering as a result of the deeds of our old man, which is the iniquity of our fathers. There is no exception to bearing the consequences of our actions as the Lord\u2019s elect of every generation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gal 6:7\u00a0 <\/span>Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.\u00a0<\/b> Eze 18:3\u00a0 <\/b>As<\/i><\/b> I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have <\/b>occasion<\/i><\/b> any more to use this proverb in Israel.\u00a0<\/b> These verses give us glimpses to the change of the Law which became effective when Jesus, the reformer, came on the scene. Here we are made aware that everyone will bear his or her own sins. That is to say that everyone who eats sour grapes will have his own teeth set on edge.<\/span><\/p>\n Act 3:20\u00a0 <\/span>And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:\u00a0<\/b> Jer 31:29\u00a0 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.\u00a0<\/span> Eze 18:5\u00a0 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,\u00a0<\/b> The verses here show us the characteristics of a righteous man or woman or simply, the Lord\u2019s elect. According to verse 6, a righteous man must not eat at the mountain shrines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Isa 57:7\u00a0 <\/span>Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In a negative sense, mountains or hills represent the place where the people of Israel perform their idolatrous acts against the Lord. In this case, the mountain represents Babylon where we imbibe false doctrines in our pursuit of another Jesus. It is in Babylon that we pay attention to the great swelling words of vanity of man\u2019s wisdom and tradition. Not eating on a mountain therefore means that as the Lord\u2019s elect, we have been delivered from Babylon and have come to know the truth of the Lord\u2019s words. As a result, we are able to test the spirit to see if it is of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n 2Pe 2:18\u00a0 <\/span>For when they speak great swelling <\/b>words<\/i><\/b> of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, <\/b>through much<\/i><\/b> wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.\u00a0<\/b> Lifting up our eyes to the idols of the house of Israel signifies harboring idols of the heart which came about as a result of our sojourn in the house of Israel or Babylon. Not lifting our eyes to the idols of the house of Israel therefore signifies the destruction of the idols of our hearts which we imbibed in Babylon.<\/span><\/p>\n Eze 14:3\u00a0 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?\u00a0<\/span> According to the word of the Lord, a wife symbolizes the church. A neighbor, on the other hand, refers to the people of Israel as shown in the following verse:<\/span><\/p>\n Lev 19:18\u00a0 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against <\/span>the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am<\/i> the LORD.<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Jesus made it clear to us that our neighbor is the one who has shown mercy to us. In other words, our brothers and sisters in Christ who acknowledge the mercy the Lord has shown to us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Luk 10:29\u00a0 <\/span>But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?\u00a0<\/b> Defiling our neighbor\u2019s wife therefore refers to anything that we do to unveil the nakedness of the church or our brothers and sisters. This means that not defiling our neighbor\u2019s wife means not doing or saying anything evil against our brothers and sisters. We, as the Lord\u2019s elect, must not defile our neighbor\u2019s wife.<\/span><\/p>\n James 4:11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (ESV)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n As the Lord\u2019s elect, we are not to have sexual relations with a woman during her period. A woman in her period signifies Babylon or the churches of this world in relation to the shedding of blood of the Lord and his messengers. In other words, if we are to worship the Lord acceptably, then we must leave Babylon.<\/span><\/p>\n Luk 11:49\u00a0 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and <\/span>some<\/span><\/i> of them they shall slay and persecute:\u00a0<\/span> Rev 18:4\u00a0 <\/span>And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.\u00a0<\/b> Eze 18:7\u00a0 And hath not oppressed any, <\/b>but<\/i><\/b> 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;\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n In verse 7, we are required not to oppress anyone but return what we took in pledge for a loan if we are to be the Lord\u2019s elect. The first time the word \u201coppression\u201d was used in the Bible, it has to do with how Pharaoh and the people of Egypt have set taskmasters over the people of Israel to cause them to work hard for Egypt\u2019s benefit. The oppression in verse 7 is also qualified by the fact that a righteous man returns what a borrower has given as security for a loan and does not rob anyone. In other words, we should not take advantage of anyone irrespective of the position the Lord has placed us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Exo 3:9\u00a0 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression <\/span>wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.<\/b><\/p>\n Exo 3:7\u00a0 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which <\/span>are<\/span><\/i> in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n As the Lord\u2019s elect, we are not to oppress anyone for our benefit. This oppression is clearly seen in the churches of this world (Babylon) where many are working hard for the benefit of the pastors of these churches. Many shepherds of the Lord in the churches of this world have become robbers of the people the Lord has placed over them through extortion in the name of tithes and offerings.<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 7 also tells us that those who are righteous give bread to the hungry and cover their nakedness with a garment. Giving bread to the hungry means feeding the Lord\u2019s people with the truth of the word of the Lord. It is the truth of the Lord\u2019s words which covers our nakedness as we are given the garment of righteousness. Unfortunately, this was not what happened to us during our time in Babylon where the shepherds feed themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n Eze 34:2\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSon of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds,<\/b> Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?<\/b> Rev 19:8\u00a0 <\/span>And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen (garment) is the righteousness of saints.<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Eze 18:8\u00a0 He <\/b>that<\/i><\/b> hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, <\/b>that<\/i><\/b> hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,\u00a0<\/b> A righteous man does not lend to people at interest or take profit from them. That is to say that we do not take advantage of people to exploit them financially. As indicated, this is what we see in Babylon where the Lord\u2019s people are exploited financially in the name of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\n Jas 5:4\u00a0 <\/span>Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.\u00a0<\/b> To withdraw our hands from iniquity means we are being judged and as a result we are learning righteousness. Putting our hands to iniquity is therefore not an attractive option for the elect as the old man is diminishing and the new man is gaining ascendency in our lives. As Paul stated, the training the Lord is taking us through in this life helps us to judge fairly between two parties and therefore prepares us to judge the world and angels in an age to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 1Co 6:2\u00a0 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?\u00a0<\/span> In verse 9, we are told that a righteous man or the Lord\u2019s elect follows the Lord\u2019s decrees and faithfully keeps His laws. This is because as we are being judged in this life, we are learning righteousness and therefore making it easier to obey the Lord\u2019s commandments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Isa 26:8\u00a0 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of <\/span>our<\/span><\/i> soul <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.\u00a0<\/span> 1Pe 4:1\u00a0 <\/span>Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;\u00a0<\/b> In conclusion, if we live by the standards set here in Ezekiel 18:5-9, then we are the Lord\u2019s righteous man and therefore we shall surely live. To be living here means that we shall be spiritually alive as we serve the Lord in this life. In other words, we shall be the Lord\u2019s overcomers!! We must take note that the walk of the elect with the Lord is a process. That means it takes time for us to live according to the Lord\u2019s standards. Let\u2019s take confidence in the fact that the Lord who has called and chosen us will see to it that we overcome. It is not about our efforts. He who has called us is faithful!!<\/span><\/p>\n Rom 9:16\u00a0 <\/span>So then <\/b>it is<\/i><\/b> not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.\u00a0<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Eze 18:10\u00a0 If he beget a son <\/b>that is<\/i><\/b> a robber, a shedder of blood, and <\/b>that<\/i><\/b> doeth the like to <\/b>any<\/i><\/b> one of these <\/b>things,<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/b> These verses show us our lives before the Lord came to us, even though we are His sons who are called and chosen before the foundations of the world by the Lord who is righteous. Verses 10 to 13 show us that we were born in sin, and as a result, we manifest the deeds of the flesh until the Lord came to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. In verse 13 we are told that we shall surely die and that we shall suffer the consequences of our lives in the flesh. That is to say our blood shall be upon us. The Lord\u2019s coming to us is to judge us so that we learn righteousness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Eph 2:1\u00a0 And you <\/span>hath he quickened,<\/span><\/i> who were dead in trespasses and sins;\u00a0<\/span> Eze 18:14\u00a0 Now, lo, <\/b>if<\/i><\/b> he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,\u00a0<\/b>The Changing of the Law<\/h4>\n
\nEze 18:2\u00a0 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?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\nExo 20:6\u00a0 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nExo 34:7\u00a0 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear <\/span>the guilty;<\/span><\/i> visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth <\/b>generation.<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nRom 7:22\u00a0 <\/span>For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:\u00a0<\/b>
\nRom 7:23\u00a0 <\/span>But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.\u00a0<\/b>
\nRom 7:24\u00a0 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?<\/span>
\nRom 7:25\u00a0 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDeu 5:29\u00a0 <\/span>O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nGal 6:8\u00a0 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nEze 18:4\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\nAct 3:21\u00a0 <\/span>Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\nJer 31:30\u00a0 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWho is a Righteous Man?<\/h4>\n
\nEze 18:6\u00a0 <\/b>And<\/i><\/b> 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,\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\n2Pe 2:19\u00a0 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.\u00a0<\/span>
\n2Pe 2:20\u00a0 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nEze 14:4\u00a0 <\/span>Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;<\/b>
\nEze 14:5\u00a0 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nLuk 10:30\u00a0 And Jesus answering said, A certain <\/span>man<\/span><\/i> went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded <\/span>him,<\/span><\/i> and departed, leaving <\/span>him<\/span><\/i> half dead.\u00a0<\/span>
\nLuk 10:31\u00a0 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.\u00a0<\/span>
\nLuk 10:32\u00a0 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked <\/span>on him,<\/span><\/i> and passed by on the other side.<\/span>
\nLuk 10:33\u00a0 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion <\/span>on him,<\/span><\/i>
\nLuk 10:34\u00a0 And went to <\/span>him,<\/span><\/i> and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.\u00a0<\/span>
\nLuk 10:35\u00a0 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave <\/span>them<\/span><\/i> to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.<\/span>
\nLuk 10:36\u00a0 <\/span>Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?\u00a0<\/b>
\nLuk 10:37\u00a0 <\/span>And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.\u00a0<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nLuk 11:50\u00a0 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;\u00a0<\/span>
\nLuk 11:51\u00a0 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nRev 18:5\u00a0 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nEze 34:3\u00a0 <\/span>You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\nEze 18:9\u00a0 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he <\/b>is<\/i><\/b> just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.<\/b><\/p>\n
\nJas 5:5\u00a0 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n1Co 6:3\u00a0 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nIsa 26:9\u00a0 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments <\/span>are<\/span><\/i> in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n1Pe 4:2\u00a0 <\/span>That he no longer should live the rest of <\/b>his<\/i><\/b> time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nEze 18:11\u00a0 And that doeth not any of those <\/b>duties,<\/i><\/b> but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,\u00a0<\/b>
\nEze 18:12\u00a0 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,\u00a0<\/b>
\nEze 18:13\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\nEph 2:2\u00a0 <\/span>Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:\u00a0<\/b>
\nEph 2:3\u00a0 <\/span>Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.\u00a0<\/b>
\nEph 2:4\u00a0 <\/span>But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,\u00a0<\/b>
\nEph 2:5\u00a0 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)\u00a0<\/span>
\nEph 2:6\u00a0 And hath raised <\/span>us<\/span><\/i> up together, and made <\/span>us<\/span><\/i> sit together in heavenly <\/span>places<\/span><\/i> in Christ Jesus:<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nEze 18:15\u00a0 <\/b>That<\/i><\/b> 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,\u00a0<\/b>
\nEze 18:16\u00a0 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, <\/b>but<\/i><\/b> hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,\u00a0<\/b>
\nEze 18:17\u00a0 <\/b>That<\/i><\/b> hath taken off his hand from the poor, <\/b>that<\/i><\/b> 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.\u00a0<\/b>
\nEze 18:18\u00a0 <\/b>As for<\/i><\/b> his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did <\/b>that<\/i><\/b>