Ezekiel 18:19-19:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 18:10-20

God, by the prophet, having laid down the general rule of judgment, that he will render eternal life to those that patiently continue in well-doing, but indignation and wrath to those that do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness (Rom. 2:7, 8), comes, in these verses, to show that men's parentage and relation shall not alter the case either one way or other. I. He applied it largely and particularly both ways. As it was in the royal line of the kings of Judah, so it often happens in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19

Yet say ye, why ?.... Why do you say so? why do you go on to assert that which is not fact, or which is contrary to fact, contrary to what we feel and experience every day, to say that children are not punished for their parents' sins? these are the words of the murmuring, complaining, and blaspheming Jews, quarrelling with the prophet, and with the Lord himself: doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father ? have not we proof of it every day we live? are not our present case and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:5-24

God's remonstrance with man's reason. It is an act of singular kindness that God should stoop to reason with the perverted mind of man. It had been a pleasure to instruct the uncorrupted mind; but now that the instrument is injured, it requires infinitely more patience and skill to deal with it. Yet God deigns to explain his principles of rule, and will eventually vindicate, as supremely just, every secret act. But sinful men are self-blinded. I. WE ARE REMINDED OF MAN 'S ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:10-20

Personal character sad destiny. "If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood," etc. Most of the features of character mentioned in these verses came under our notice in our preceding homily. And other parts of these verses ( e.g. "the soul that sinneth, it shall die") have already engaged our attention. But the paragraph suggests the following observations. I. THAT PERSONAL CHARACTER IS NOT HEREDITARY . We have pointed out (on Ezekiel 18:1-4 ) that moral... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19

Why? doth not the son, etc.? The words are better taken, with the LXX ; Vulgate, Revised Version, and most critics, as a single question, Why doth not the son bear, etc.? What is the explanation of a fact which seemingly contradicts the teaching of the Law? The answer to the question seems at first only an iteration of what had been stated before. The son repents, and therefore does not bear his father's iniquity. A man is responsible for his own sins, and for those only. To think... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19-22

Personal responsibility. We can only account for the Prophet Ezekiel laying such special stress upon the principle of individuality in religion by supposing that, in his time and among those with whom he associated, there was a prevalent disposition and habit leading to the denial of what seems to us an unquestionable truth. Indeed, in some form or other, men do incline to shift responsibility from themselves to their parents, their early teachers, their companions, the society in which... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 18:19

Why?... - Rather, “Why doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father?” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 18:19-20

Ezekiel 18:19-20. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? God here puts into the prophet’s mouth what he knew the Jews would object (at least in their minds) to the foregoing declarations, namely, that they would deny what the prophet had said on this head, and would appeal to facts and experience that the son did bear the iniquity of the father; so that the sense of the first clause of the verse is, Why do you affirm this? does not experience show that the son... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-32

Each person is responsible (18:1-32)Many of the exiles complained that it was unjust that they should suffer because of the sins of the previous generation. True, the present captivity had resulted from the continuing decay of the nation over several generations, but the exiles could not deny that they too had sinned. There could be no excuses. They are individually responsible for their wrongdoings and they are punished accordingly (18:1-4).Examples of sins are then given. These include... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:19

"Yet say ye, Wherefore doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? 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."Here it is stated both positively and negatively... read more

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