Sunday, August 9, 2015

On 8-16-15, Ezekiel 18:1-13, 31-32 or 30-32 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as A Call for Repentance

A Call for Repentance
Ezekiel 18:1-13, 31-32 or 30-32
August 16, 2015



Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough




Last week I mentioned our tendency to think of ourselves as important.  That is until we are expected to do something difficult.

Whether we like it or not we are each responsible for ourselves.  

That shouldn’t even need to be said but far to often people tend to put responsibility for things anywhere but were it truly belongs.

They take out a loan and don’t do what they need to do and improve their credit so they can refinance at a better rate, they can't make the payment and lose their home.  It is the banks fault in their mind and not their own—wrong.

They have a gun, they keep it loaded and unlocked.  They don’t educate their child about guns and when that child accidentally shoots a neighbor child as they play it is not their fault as the parent—wrong.

We can’t blame the bank or the gun manufacturer or whatever the case may be when things befall us that are our responsibility.

Back in the time of Ezekiel things were no different.  They liked to say things like the sins of the father were passed down to the children because of scripture such as Deuteronomy 5:8-10 or as in we read in today’s scripture, “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.”

The latter is a bit more difficult to understand when you aren’t from that culture from back then but if you’ve ever bitten into any very unripe fruit and think about what you read it makes sense.

The scripture from Deuteronomy I mentioned when talking of idolatry says, “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Now we know that God is consistent, does not lie nor change His mind and today’s scripture as do others such as Deuteronomy 24:16, 2 Kings 14:6, and Jeremiah 31:30 clearly give us clarity that it is the responsibility of the individual.

When we do not raise up a generation or generations in the way that they should go they repeat the sins of the fathers.  They in effect hate God as their fathers did and that is why their sin is also punished.

No one else can ask for forgiveness of our own sins but ourselves as much as we might like to do for others.  We must teach responsibility for our individual behavior.


For Discussion:

  1. Discuss if you disagree
  2. Discuss how we tend to blame others for our situation
  3. Discuss how we in part set a course for our children
  4. Discuss how some can though pay for the sin of others
  5. How can a pattern of sin in a family or group be broken
  6. Discuss verses 7-8
  7. Discuss 1 Timothy 3 with regard to the qualifications of elders and deacons with regard to their families in light of today’s scripture






Upcoming Lessons

August 23    God Demands Justice or A Demand for Justice     Zechariah 7:8-14
August 30     Return to a Just God or A Plea to Return to God     Malachi 3:1-10






Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved


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