Post by Jesse Morrell on Dec 21, 2009 22:38:39 GMT -5
“I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the Fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me…” (Exo. 20:5)
1. It is strange that this verse would ever be used to suppose the Augustinian doctrine of original sin. If this verse was saying that sin and guilt was hereditary, it would be saying that only the third and fourth generation inherits it. Augustine’s doctrine says that all children of all generations inherit the sin and guilt of Adam. Therefore if this verse was saying that sin and guilt was hereditary, it would be a refutation of the Augustinian doctrine of original sin.
2. To “the third and fourth generation” means that the actions of a parent have an influence upon his children, but he does not influence all of his generations. One of the greatest influences or teachers is example. An example influences those who observe it. When a child see’s their father sinning (first generation), or their grandfather sinning (second generation), or their grandfather sinning (third generation), this has an influence upon their own moral character. This particular commandment is about bowing down to idols. If a child observes their parent in the worship of an idol, their parent’s example could influence them to do likewise. In this way they partake of their father’s sin. All throughout the Bible we see how one person’s example could lead others into sin (1 Kng. 14:16; 15:26, 30, 34; 16:13, 26; 21:22; 22:52; 2 Kng. 3:3; 10:29, 31; 13:2; 14:24; 15:9, 18, 24, 28; 21:11, 16; 23:15, Neh. 13:26, Jer. 32:35, Isa. 3:12, Matt. 18:6; Mk. 9:42; Lk. 17:2, 1 Cor. 8:9, Heb. 4:11). “But whosoever shall offend [cause to sin] one of these little ones…” (Matt. 18:6). “But take heed lest by any means, this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (1 Cor. 8:9). “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Heb. 4:11).
3. The phrase “of them that hate me” is a very important. Children do not share in their father’s sin and guilt by inheritance but by imitation. If the children do not grow up to hate the Lord and bow down to idols as their fathers did, then the iniquity of their fathers is not being visited upon them. If a child does not walk in the sins of their father, they do not share in the guilt of their fathers. “Yet say ye, Why? Doeth not the son bear the iniquity of the fathers? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Eze. 18:19-20). When the Pharisees were seeking to kill Jesus, and they admitted that their fathers had killed the prophets, Jesus said to them, “Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.” (Matt. 23:32). They were sharing in the guilt of their fathers by sharing in the sin of their fathers. They were guilty of rejecting and murdering those whom God sent to them, just as their fathers were. Children share in the guilt of their fathers by sharing in the sins of their fathers. But if a child does not share in their sin, they will not share in their guilt. No man can possibly be guilty of a sin that he didn’t commit.
1. It is strange that this verse would ever be used to suppose the Augustinian doctrine of original sin. If this verse was saying that sin and guilt was hereditary, it would be saying that only the third and fourth generation inherits it. Augustine’s doctrine says that all children of all generations inherit the sin and guilt of Adam. Therefore if this verse was saying that sin and guilt was hereditary, it would be a refutation of the Augustinian doctrine of original sin.
2. To “the third and fourth generation” means that the actions of a parent have an influence upon his children, but he does not influence all of his generations. One of the greatest influences or teachers is example. An example influences those who observe it. When a child see’s their father sinning (first generation), or their grandfather sinning (second generation), or their grandfather sinning (third generation), this has an influence upon their own moral character. This particular commandment is about bowing down to idols. If a child observes their parent in the worship of an idol, their parent’s example could influence them to do likewise. In this way they partake of their father’s sin. All throughout the Bible we see how one person’s example could lead others into sin (1 Kng. 14:16; 15:26, 30, 34; 16:13, 26; 21:22; 22:52; 2 Kng. 3:3; 10:29, 31; 13:2; 14:24; 15:9, 18, 24, 28; 21:11, 16; 23:15, Neh. 13:26, Jer. 32:35, Isa. 3:12, Matt. 18:6; Mk. 9:42; Lk. 17:2, 1 Cor. 8:9, Heb. 4:11). “But whosoever shall offend [cause to sin] one of these little ones…” (Matt. 18:6). “But take heed lest by any means, this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (1 Cor. 8:9). “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Heb. 4:11).
3. The phrase “of them that hate me” is a very important. Children do not share in their father’s sin and guilt by inheritance but by imitation. If the children do not grow up to hate the Lord and bow down to idols as their fathers did, then the iniquity of their fathers is not being visited upon them. If a child does not walk in the sins of their father, they do not share in the guilt of their fathers. “Yet say ye, Why? Doeth not the son bear the iniquity of the fathers? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Eze. 18:19-20). When the Pharisees were seeking to kill Jesus, and they admitted that their fathers had killed the prophets, Jesus said to them, “Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.” (Matt. 23:32). They were sharing in the guilt of their fathers by sharing in the sin of their fathers. They were guilty of rejecting and murdering those whom God sent to them, just as their fathers were. Children share in the guilt of their fathers by sharing in the sins of their fathers. But if a child does not share in their sin, they will not share in their guilt. No man can possibly be guilty of a sin that he didn’t commit.