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Bible Question: In
Deut. 5:9, it says that God will punish the sins to the 3rd and 4th
generation. Then in Ezekiel 18:19-20, it appears that the children
will not share in the guilt of the father but each person will be
judged separately. Could you please explain this punishing of generations?
I have heard it said there is a family curse on some people. Can
this be true?
Bible Answer: There
are number of passages (Ex. 20:5; 34:7; Num. 14:18; Deut. 5:9) in
the Old Testament that talk about the sins of the fathers being passed
on to their children. Deuteronomy 5:9 is just one.
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You
shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your
God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers
on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations
of those who hate Me . . . (NASB) Deut. 5:9 |
God's
statement in Ezekiel 18:19-20 is a clue that many have misunderstood
Deut. 5:9 and the other passages. You have asked a great question.
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"Yet
you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment
for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has
practiced justice and righteousness, and has observed all
My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. The person
who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for
the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the
punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness
of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness
of the wicked will be upon himself." (NASB) Ezek. 18:19-20 |
Third
and Fourth Generation. In order to understand Deut. 5:9, we should go to
the first time the Bible records the statement. It first occurs in the Ten Commandments.
It is the second command.
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You
shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your
God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers
on the children, on the third and the fourth generations
of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands,
to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (NASB) Exodus
20:5-6 |
In
the commandment God is warning the Israelites to not worship other
gods. This warning is not about just any sin. It is a warning against
worshipping other gods. This warning is repeated in each of the other
passages.
Most
of us understand that God might "punish" someone for rejecting Him
and then worshipping another god. But we struggle with the idea that God might "punish" our
great grandchildren and great great grandchildren for our sins. We are aware
that children mimic their parents and often pick-up their bad habits. If the
parents are ungodly and if they reject God, it is often true that the rest of
the family will too. It is impossible for children not to be like their parents
in some way - good or bad.
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