What does Ezekiel 18 verses 1-30 mean?

The Book of Ezekiel has been identified as one of the most difficult to study. The theme often changes dramatically from chapter to chapter, returning in a later chapter to a previous theme. Some of the symbolism is obscure, and some of it extremely offensive to modern readers, such that much of the vocabulary, especially in chapters 16 and 23, has been toned down in English translations.

Verses 18:1-3 refer to the Hebrew tradition of the son being punished for the sins of his father, with the LORD saying this is not true and that this saying must no longer be repeated in Israel. Chapter 18 goes on to say that God says if a man is virtuous and lives by God's commandments, he will live; if he has a son who lives contrary to the commandments, the son shall die. On the other hand, if the father lives contrary to the commandments, while the son is virtuous, then only the father shall die.

The son has done what is right and just, and shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. Ezekiel is replacing the law of Numbers 14:18 which says that God will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

This passage has the theme of "you reap what you sow". The Israelites were in a state of heavy disfavor with their God at this time. They had rejected their God, served other gods and were not listening to the law covenant that God had made with them.

Some of them were even sacrificing their own children to other gods. That is why God withdrew his protection from the nation and allowed them to be conquered by the Babylonian Empire. The temple of Jerusalem was destroyed and many of the Israelites were taken into exile.

Ezekiel is proclaiming that God would forgive the Israelites if they would repent from all the transgressions they had made against their God. Chapter 18 is filled with proclamations that God does not take any pleasure in the suffering of anyone, and would rather the wrongdoer repent, and turn back to serving Him. Chapter 18 also proclaims that a person will be judged individually according to his own actions.

Those that do not repent and change their actions, will cause themselves to stumble or that will be their downfall resulting in death. That was different than some of the traditions practiced of sons being punished for the sins of their fathers based on earlier judgments God had made in the old testament.It mentions that the soul that is sinning will die in verse 4. At Romans 3:23, the Apostle Paul points out that all humans, with the exception of Jesus, have sinned and hence die.

At Romans 6:23, he says that the wages of sin is death. A little bit earlier in verse 7 of that chapter, Paul brings out that the one who has died has been acquitted from their sin. So the "keep on living" promise to those that listen to God, is considered in the resurrection when people will be raised from the dead without the inherited sin that came from Adam.

(Compare 1 Corinthians 15:42)This chapter is also what Biblical scholars often discuss when the matter of fate or predestination is being debated. This chapter seems to indicate that each person chooses whether or not he will please God. Hence it is a passage that is pointed to when discussing that humans have free will according to the Bible.

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