Ezek 18:1 (NRSV) The word of the LORD came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? 3 As I live, says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.Read the remainder of the lesson here (scroll down to the section for ECUSA).
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Sins of the parents
Bemused at Blogging through the Bible has noted the constant theme of children paying for their parents’ sins (she’s nearly through II Kings now), and I have found it as perplexing and disheartening as she does. However, theology does shift in the Old Testament, though it’s a detail that escapes most people’s notice. The Lectionary for today includes Ezekiel 18, which provides an uplifting preview:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Not too long ago I was reading about traditional tribal societies in Africa where the concept of multigenerational punishment is still very real. It's interesting to think, that at some point in Hebrew society, people were given the insight that God's ways might not be human ways -- that God was not a tribal patriarch writ large, exacting justice in the same traditional honor/shame manner as human patriarchs, but Someone/Something much more).
Post a Comment