What Does God Say of All These Commandments?
God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments. Therefore we should dread His wrath and not act contrary to these commandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him, and gladly do [zealously and diligently order our whole life] according to His commandments.
What God says about these commandments usually brings a few questions from youth during confirmation class. They are sometimes just a bit concerned about whether God will punish them for their parents sins.
I try to reassure them that if a parents rejects God; but, the children love God, God will not punish them for their parents unbelief. Read what Ezekiel 18:14-20 has to say regarding this matter of children being punished for their parents' sins:
“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:
And, in Deuteronomy 24:16 we find: "Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin."
So what does it mean for iniquity of the fathers to be visited upon the children unto the third and fourth generation? Children will often follow in the ways that they have learned from their parents; but, not always. Although, we are born with sinful natures; we also learn sinful behaviors. Sometimes, sinful behaviors are learned from and even encouraged by our parents. However, there are those who will find their parents' ways so detestable that they will go in the way in which the Lord leads them.
As parents, we are to teach, with both the words of our lips and our lifestyles, the way in which our children ought to go; the way that is most pleasing to the Lord. We must use caution that our lifestyles do not lead our children in a way that they will experience most unpleasant consequences in this world and the next. As children, we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and not necessarily in the way that our parents and the world would teach us.
May God help us to love and trust in Him, and gladly live according to His will.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Answer.
He says thus (Exod. 20:5f): I the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
What does this mean?--Answer.God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments. Therefore we should dread His wrath and not act contrary to these commandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him, and gladly do [zealously and diligently order our whole life] according to His commandments.
What God says about these commandments usually brings a few questions from youth during confirmation class. They are sometimes just a bit concerned about whether God will punish them for their parents sins.
I try to reassure them that if a parents rejects God; but, the children love God, God will not punish them for their parents unbelief. Read what Ezekiel 18:14-20 has to say regarding this matter of children being punished for their parents' sins:
“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:
“He does not eat at the mountain shrines
or look to the idols of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
He does not oppress anyone
or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked.
He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws and follows my decrees.
or look to the idols of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
He does not oppress anyone
or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked.
He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws and follows my decrees.
He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.
“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live. The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.And, in Deuteronomy 24:16 we find: "Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin."
So what does it mean for iniquity of the fathers to be visited upon the children unto the third and fourth generation? Children will often follow in the ways that they have learned from their parents; but, not always. Although, we are born with sinful natures; we also learn sinful behaviors. Sometimes, sinful behaviors are learned from and even encouraged by our parents. However, there are those who will find their parents' ways so detestable that they will go in the way in which the Lord leads them.
As parents, we are to teach, with both the words of our lips and our lifestyles, the way in which our children ought to go; the way that is most pleasing to the Lord. We must use caution that our lifestyles do not lead our children in a way that they will experience most unpleasant consequences in this world and the next. As children, we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and not necessarily in the way that our parents and the world would teach us.
May God help us to love and trust in Him, and gladly live according to His will.
God's Peace - Pr. J
No comments:
Post a Comment