Ezekiel 18:14-18

Ezekiel 18:14-18

[14] Now, lo, if he beget  a son,  that seeth  all his father's  sins  which he hath done,  and considereth,  and doeth  not such like,  [15] That hath not eaten  upon the mountains,  neither hath lifted up  his eyes  to the idols  of the house  of Israel,  hath not defiled  his neighbour's  wife,  [16] Neither hath oppressed  any,  hath not withholden  the pledge,  neither hath spoiled  by violence,  but hath given  his bread  to the hungry,  and hath covered  the naked  with a garment,  [17] That hath taken off  his hand  from the poor,  that hath not received  usury  nor increase,  hath executed  my judgments,  hath walked  in my statutes;  he shall not die  for the iniquity  of his father,  he shall surely  [18] As for his father,  because he cruelly  oppressed,  spoiled  his brother  by violence,  and did  that which is not good  among  his people,  lo, even he shall die  in his iniquity. 

What does Ezekiel 18:14-18 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This sinful son might have a son who observed his father"s behavior and chose to follow the example of his righteous grandfather rather than that of his unrighteous father. He refrained from the same evil practices and engaged in the same forms of goodness. That man would surely live for his righteousness whereas his father would die for his wickedness. Wicked parents do not necessarily produce wicked children because the children can choose to do right. The Israelites had illustrations of this alternation of good and evil individuals in succeeding generations even in the royal family. King Hezekiah, for example, was good, his son Manasseh was bad, and Manasseh"s grandson Josiah was good.
". . . in this world God does indeed punish entire groups for the sins that they as groups commit, even when some members of the group may be innocent. Such groups are often nations, cities, or other political entities, but they may also be societal groups such as priests or prophets, or economic groups such as businesses or trade guilds, or such voluntary associations as churches." [1]