Ezekiel 18 focuses on individual responsibility of each person before God. God tells Israel to stop quoting the proverb: "the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge". That is that each individual answers for his own sin and should not blame it on previous generations. Ezekiel gives 3 examples of this principal starting with a righteous man "who does what is just and right... he will surely live declares the Sovereign Lord". Next comes the righteous man's violent son who "defiles his neighbour's wife... oppresses the poor...and does detestable things... will such a man live? He will not!" Then comes the violent son's son who "keeps God's law's and follows his decrees... he will surely live". Thus it was shown that nobody is judged according to the behaviour of another person. Then the text goes on to show that repentance will be rewarded and that the ways of God are just. The chapter concludes exhorting all to "get a new heart and spirit" from the Lord and live.
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