Ezekiel

Ezekiel 18: God calls sinners to live

Begin in prayer

Before hearing God's answer to Israel's excuse, let us set our own excuses aside. Ask the Lord to subdue our distractions, be present with our family and reveal Christ to us as we read Ezekiel 18.

Don’t you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Yahweh of Armies says, ‘Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings;’ but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says Yahweh.

Zechariah 1:4

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us hear Your just warning and see Jesus as the Savior we each need. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God rejects Israel's proverb that blames its suffering on the fathers' sins. Father and son belong to Him, and the person who sins will die. Through three generations, He shows that each person answers for their own conduct. The wicked who turns from all his sins will live, with his transgressions no longer remembered against him. The righteous who turns to wickedness will die in his sin, with none of his former righteous deeds remembered. God declares His ways just and calls Israel to cast away its sins and make a new heart and spirit. He takes no pleasure in the death of the one who dies and calls them to turn and live.

As you read Ezekiel 18, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God judges each person justly and calls sinners to turn from sin and live.

The sour grapes proverb blames the children's suffering on their fathers, turning judgment into an accusation that God's dealings are unfair. God answers that every soul belongs to Him, so He judges each person's own ways. The three generations expose the failure of inherited claims, because a righteous father cannot shelter a violent son from his own guilt. Equally, a grandson who sees and rejects his father's sins can live, so bad parentage gives no reason to continue them. God's named duties make righteousness concrete, reaching worship, sexual conduct, property, hunger and justice. A wicked person's earlier sins will not be remembered when he turns from all of them and does what is right. A righteous person's earlier deeds will not protect him when he turns to wickedness, for God says he will die in his sin. These warnings answer the charge of unfairness and press His command to cast away sins and make a new heart and spirit. His declared lack of pleasure in death gives urgency to the final call to turn and live.

How does Ezekiel 18 show us that God judges each person justly and calls sinners to turn from sin and live?

God judges each person for their own ways.

A righteous father cannot protect his violent son from the judgment his sins deserve (verses 5 to 20). A grandson who refuses those sins will live. The just man rejects idols, returns pledges, feeds the hungry, clothes the naked and judges fairly. God's commands forbid adultery, robbery, oppression and lending at interest.

God calls the wicked to turn and live.

The wicked person who turns from all his sins and does right will live (verses 21 to 23). His transgressions will not be remembered against him. God delights in the sinner's return to live.

God's warning calls for repentance now.

If the righteous turns to wickedness, his former righteous deeds will not be remembered (verses 24 to 32). He will die in his sin. God declares His judgment just and calls Israel to cast away its transgressions. They must turn and live.

Memorize

For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!

Ezekiel 18:32

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin am I blaming on others, and will I ask Jesus to forgive me?

God asks, “for why will you die, house of Israel?” He calls them to cast away their sins and live. Blaming a father or pointing to former obedience cannot answer His warning. Each of us must face the sin we have committed.

Jesus came to save sinners who deserve death. He obeyed His Father without sin and gave Himself on the cross in His people's place. Their guilt was laid on Him, and He bore its punishment to the end. He has finished their redemption, and nothing is missing from His saving work. On the third day He rose again.

Please turn from your sin and trust this living Savior. Come to Him with the guilt you have been trying to explain away. He promises forgiveness to every repentant sinner who believes in Him. Ask Him for a new heart that hears God's call and walks in His ways.

Parent's note

Tell your children that each must answer to God, and Jesus died and rose to save sinners who turn to Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His just judgment and call to live, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Acts 20:21

Father, thank You for telling us to turn from sin and live. Forgive our blame and excuses, and help each one repent and trust the Lord Jesus. Please give us new hearts that receive Your warning, take responsibility for our sin and obey Your Word. Amen.