Stories For Stubborn People November 16, 2016 Two Eagles a Cedar and a Vine Ezekiel 17 Page 1

We think that only Jesus told parables At times, the prophets did too This is a parable The parable of two eagles, a cedar and a vine We were just seeing the Lord use allegory through Ezekiel, and as stubborn as the people are, they will not hear the straight up Word of God, the message has to be disguised so it can be digested.

Ezekiel 17 is not a new message but a new way to reveal the same truths the prophet has been declaring all along. The familiar truths presented in an unfamiliar way are that God is sovereign, He judges those who refuse to do His will, and He has a steadfast plan to preserve a people for His name. Similar to Genesis 37– 41, the events noted in Ezekiel 17 reveal a divine hand orchestrating a plan beyond what is just perceived with human eyes. Dowden, Landon (2015-11-05). Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (Kindle Locations 1870-1873). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Psalm 78:1–3 Listen, O my people, to my instruction; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. (NASB95)

The manner in which plants and animals relate in the story, carrying on as if they were humans, would have amused any audience, and undoubtedly contributed to the prophet’s reputation as a “spinner of riddles” and entertainer. Given the seriousness of the national crisis and the burden of his calling, however, it is inconceivable that Ezekiel would have spent his time simply entertaining them. Daniel Isaac Block, The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1–24, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 523.

Some background on the area

The collapse of the Assyrian Empire created a power vacuum that both Egypt and Babylon wanted to fill. In all the twists and turns of this struggle, Judah was central. At first the Egyptians required money and loyalty from the Southern Kingdom during the days of King Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31– 35). When the Egyptian campaign against Babylon failed at the critical battle of Carchemish (605 BC), Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers chased the Egyptians back to the mouth of the Nile and made Neco’s vassal, Jehoiakim, their vassal (2 Kings 23:34; 24:1). James C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen, A Visual Guide to Bible Events: Fascinating Insights into Where They Happened and Why (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2009), 126.

Just as today, in order to grab your attention in order to sell you something, a short story is told, many times using familiar landmarks, but enough of a story to grab your attention so you will hear out what is being said. Ezekiel did the same. Page 2 Ezekiel 17:1–10 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “A great eagle with great wings, long pinions and a full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar. He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders. He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside abundant waters; he set it like a willow. Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and yielded shoots and sent out branches. But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was planted, that he might water it. It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters, that it might yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.” ’ “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers—so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again. Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it—wither on the beds where it grew?” ’ ” (NASB95)

A riddle?

A puzzling or enigmatic saying whose baffling quality derives from the skillful manipulation of the inherent ambiguity of language. H. T. C. Sun, “Riddle,” ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 190.

These are hard headed, stubborn people, why something that requires interpretation?

The intent is to capture the attention of the listener, and then, when they are busy trying to determine the overall meaning of what they just heard, the Lord will tell them what it actually means.

A beautiful and powerful eagle plucks the top off a cedar tree and then drops it into a city full of commerce. The eagle then takes an interest in farming and plants seed in a place with great potential for growth. The seed becomes a vine that outwardly honors the eagle but beneath the surface remains most loyal to self. The vine reaches out to another eagle for help and rejects what the first eagle has done for it. The question of the riddle is then asked: What’s going to happen to the vine after it rejects the first eagle in favor of the second eagle? Dowden, Landon (2015-11-05). Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (Kindle Locations 1890-1894). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

So who are the players based on the story? The first eagle referenced is the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar

Hosea 8:1 “Put the trumpet to your lips! Like an eagle the enemy comes against the house of the LORD, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law.” (NASB95)

Daniel 4:22 “…it is you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your majesty has become great and reached to the sky and your dominion to the end of the earth.” (NASB95)

Ezekiel 17:3 “…saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “A great eagle with great wings, long pinions and a full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.” (NASB95) In the Hebrew, the term used for the type of bird can be either an eagle or a vulture. It is a bird of prey. It is also an unclean animal. Page 3 This one has some specific characteristics: The great eagle is the king of Babylon, who is among the kings what the eagle is among the birds: in the composition of the cherubim, the eagle represents the whole class of birds. The greatness of the wings and of the quills denotes the extension of his dominion...The thickness of the feathers denotes the great multitude of his subjects; the divers colours, the multiplicity of the nations. E. W. Hengstenberg, The Prophecies of the Prophet Ezekiel Elucidated, trans. A. C. Murphy and J. G. Murphy, Clark’s Foreign Theological Library (Edinburgh; London; Dublin: T&T Clark; Hamilton & Co.; John Robertson and Co., 1869), 149. Who is the cedar tree in Lebanon? Jeremiah 22:18–23 Therefore thus says the LORD in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, “They will not lament for him: ‘Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’ They will not lament for him: ‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’ He will be buried with a donkey’s burial, Dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem. Go up to Lebanon and cry out, And lift up your voice in Bashan; Cry out also from Abarim, For all your lovers have been crushed. I spoke to you in your prosperity; But you said, ‘I will not listen!’ This has been your practice from your youth, That you have not obeyed My voice. The wind will sweep away all your shepherds, And your lovers will go into captivity; Then you will surely be ashamed and humiliated Because of all your wickedness. You who dwell in Lebanon, Nested in the cedars, How you will groan when pangs come upon you, Pain like a woman in childbirth!” (NASB95)

Some additional background is provided for us in two other locations in the Scriptures. The cedar though in Lebanon is the house of David

2 Kings 23:36–24:6 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done. In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years; then he turned and rebelled against him. The LORD sent against him bands of Chaldeans, bands of Arameans, bands of Moabites, and bands of Ammonites. So He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken through His servants the prophets. Surely at the command of the LORD it came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also for the innocent blood which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; and the LORD would not forgive. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son became king in his place. (NASB95)

2 Chronicles 36:1–8 Then the people of the land took Joahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in place of his father in Jerusalem. Joahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. Then the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and imposed on the land a fine of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. The king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Joahaz his brother and brought him to Egypt. Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him and bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also brought some of the articles of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his temple at Babylon. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and the abominations which he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son became king in his place. (NASB95)

In order to follow along a little better, a family tree might be in order to include some of the alternate names we run into in the Scriptures for these last few Kings of Judah. Remember, Josiah was the King who had the final revival take place. We shall see his own sons did not buy into what dad believed. That becomes more in focus in Chapter 18. Page 4 Page 5 The people thought, and had wrongly believed, that the sins or righteousness of the parent accrued to the next generation. We see in Chapter 18, the Lord will point out that is not the case.

Last week we saw that one of the problems for Israel at this time was that they were becoming involved with foreign powers which had nothing good for them other than to take their money. Judah became a vassal state of Egypt after the death of Josiah and as a result his son was taken prisoner back to Egypt and Jehoiakim was made king. Being a vassal state of Egypt did not last long as Babylon then defeated Egypt and took over Judah

Judah became a vassal state of Babylon, but after three years, they rebelled against that. We see that Nebuchadnezzar dealt with the rebellion and removed Jehoiakim to Babylon where he died. He placed Jehoiachin, also known as Jeconiah, on the throne to replace him. The parable picks up around that point.

2 Kings 24:8–16 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done. At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon went up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege. And Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it. Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother and his servants and his captains and his officials. So the king of Babylon took him captive in the eighth year of his reign. He carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, just as the LORD had said. Then he led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land. So he led Jehoiachin away into exile to Babylon; also the king’s mother and the king’s wives and his officials and the leading men of the land, he led away into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. All the men of valor, seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths, one thousand, all strong and fit for war, and these the king of Babylon brought into exile to Babylon. (NASB95)

Based on its historical referents, the story could be retold as follows: The king of Babylon (the first eagle) came to Jerusalem (Lebanon) and removed its king, Jehoiachin (the crown of the cedar), to Babylon (the merchant city). Meanwhile, he installed another member of the royal family, Zedekiah (the seed of the land), on the throne (the fertile soil with abundant waters), with the intention that this king should remain submissive (the low vine) and loyal to him (branches toward him) Daniel Isaac Block, The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1–24, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 523–524.

From the point that Jehoiachin went into exile, he was kept in prison by Nebuchadnezzar until after his death.

2 Kings 25:27–30 Now it came about in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison; and he spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon. Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes and had his meals in the king’s presence regularly all the days of his life; and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life. (NASB95) Page 6 Lebanon is a figurative designation for Jerusalem with its cedar house of God (Jer. 22:14, 23). The cedar is the nation of Israel; and the top of the cedar is King Jehoiachin and his court who were carried to Babylonia and Babylon in the deportation of 597 B.C., when Ezekiel himself was taken captive. A land of traffic … a city of merchants speaks of the economic and political activity of the Babylonian Empire (Canaan is a word for trading, 16:29). Bert Harold Hall, “The Book of Ezekiel,” in Isaiah-Malachi, vol. 3, The Wesleyan Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1969), 411.

So far, the story tells us of history which the exiles are familiar with. They may not be familiar with what is currently going on though. Zedekiah was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar. All he had to do was rule, and not rebel. Initially his roots were toward the first eagle, toward Babylon, but then another eagle came up. Judah looks to Egypt, again. The big question is why? Jeremiah 46:2 To Egypt, concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt, which was by the Euphrates River at Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: (NASB95)

The reason for the change in vassal status for Jerusalem is the simple fact that they were defeated by Babylon. In fact:

2 Kings 24:7 The king of Egypt did not come out of his land again, for the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates. (NASB95) But as Ezekiel had just revealed with the harlotry examples for strange politics in Chapter 16, this parable brings out more.

Zedekiah rebelled

Subject to the Babylonians, Zedekiah was able to maintain the kingdom of Judah for only eleven years. He was under constant pressure to join the Egyptians in a rebellion against the Babylonians. When Zedekiah yielded to the pro-Egyptian party, the Babylonian armies advanced to Jerusalem, besieging it in 588. Samuel J. Schultz and Gary V. Smith, Exploring the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 100.

The king of Babylon “took of the seed of the land” (ver. 5), in opposition to the appointment of a foreign regent; Zedekiah, whom the Chaldeans appointed, was of the old native royal family (2 Kings 24:17; here ver. 13). The Chaldean policy preferred such a one, in order to secure the sympathies of the people. The “field of seed” in which the new king was planted, is a fertile soil, in opposition to a barren region. It refers, besides the fertility, to the advantageous situation of the promised land in a commercial aspect, on the highway of the world’s commerce by land and by water, to which the blessing of Jacob had pointed (Gen. 49:13); and likewise the blessing of Moses (Deut. 33:19). E. W. Hengstenberg, The Prophecies of the Prophet Ezekiel Elucidated, trans. A. C. Murphy and J. G. Murphy, Clark’s Foreign Theological Library (Edinburgh; London; Dublin: T&T Clark; Hamilton & Co.; John Robertson and Co., 1869), 150.

The Lord is pointing out that the vine was fine where it was, there was no need for rebellion. But because the vine wanted to be watered from where the other eagle lived, it was in danger of withering. Notice in verse 10 it is the “east wind” that is going to blow. The east wind is a picture of judgment in the Scriptures. (Jer 18:7, Hos 13:15) The west wind is of blessings. Page 7 Ezekiel is pointing to some near future events in this story. Again, validating his calling. For us, these are historical events not only attested to by the Scriptures, but also validated by archaeological discoveries.

Babylonian text mentioning Nebuchadnezzar’s victory at Carchemish and his later capture of Jerusalem in 598 BC. James C. Martin, John A. Beck, and David G. Hansen, A Visual Guide to Bible Events: Fascinating Insights into Where They Happened and Why (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2009), 126.

Ezekiel 17:11–21 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Say now to the rebellious house, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Say, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and princes and brought them to him in Babylon. He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land, that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant that it might continue. But he rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt that they might give him horses and many troops. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Can he indeed break the covenant and escape? ‘As I live,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘Surely in the country of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, in Babylon he shall die. Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in the war, when they cast up ramps and build siege walls to cut off many lives. Now he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he pledged his allegiance, yet did all these things; he shall not escape.’ ” Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, “As I live, surely My oath which he despised and My covenant which he broke, I will inflict on his head. I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. Then I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there regarding the unfaithful act which he has committed against Me. All the choice men in all his troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to every wind; and you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.” (NASB95)

The problem, Zedekiah made an oath before the Lord that he would be a vassal of Babylon, he then violated the oath.

2 Chronicles 36:13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear allegiance by God. But he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. (NASB95)

Numbers 30:1–2 Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the word which the LORD has commanded. If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” (NASB95)

Leviticus 19:12 “You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.” (NASB95)

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (NASB95) God is serious about His Word and He does not look the other way, even in the case of Zedekiah. The interesting thing is that Nebuchadnezzar kept his side of the covenant. God’s people broke the covenant, but the pagan nation kept their side of it. J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 473. Page 8 For Zedekiah, he would be captured and brought to Babylon and there he would die. Just as there was a glimmer of hope at the end of chapter 16, the end of chapter 17 also has hope in it.

Ezekiel 17:22–24 Thus says the Lord GOD, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it.” (NASB95)

God lets the exiles know that even at this, He will take a sprig from the top of the cedar, someone from the line of David, and plant it on a high mountain.

Ezekiel 20:40 “For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD, “there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them and there I will seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things.” (NASB95)

Hosea 14:5–7 “I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His shoots will sprout, And his beauty will be like the olive tree And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. Those who live in his shadow Will again raise grain, And they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon.” (NASB95)

Isaiah 11:1–9 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.” (NASB95)

Jeremiah 23:5–6 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’” (NASB95)

Zechariah 3:8 “Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.” (NASB95)

The sprig being referred to by Ezekiel is a Messianic reference to the coming King, the one who will be able to fully protect the Nation, not like the two eagles who could not. Page 9

But in order for the “shoot” to be planted, take root, and grow, the other “trees” (kingdoms) will have to be removed. Some of them will be cut down and others will just wither. The kingdoms of men seem large and powerful today, and the kingdom of the Lord seems small and withering, but when Jesus returns to earth to reign, the tables will be turned. This is why we must never be afraid or discouraged when we survey the world scene. Jesus came as “a root out of a dry ground” (Isa. 53:1–2), an insignificant shoot from David’s family tree, but one day His kingdom will fill the earth. Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Reverent, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor/Cook Communications, 2000), 81.

Isaiah 55:12 “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (NASB95)

Ezekiel has given us several pictures of the failure of the nation, some of which sound too close for comfort to our present day situations. The question comes up though, I thought God was a loving God who forgives, we forget though He is also righteous and judges sin.

Today we continually look for someone to be accountable for the circumstances we are in. It has to be someone did this, all too often, that someone is me.

The next four chapters are about responsibility and accountability.

God judges each of us for our own sins, and not for someone else's. Chapter 18

Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (NASB95)

The leadership of Israel are responsible for their own decisions. Chapter 19

The nation has a long history (70x7 years) of irresponsibility. Chapter 20

God is faithful and as a result, He chastens to bring us back as well as the nation. Chapter 21

How prone are we to accept responsibility for our own actions?

Genesis 3:6–13 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (NASB95) Page 10

From the very beginning, we pass the buck.

Romans 14:12 “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (NASB95)

While joint responsibility burdens the individual conscience, it may, at the same time, be said to lighten it. Thus, in Ezk. 18 one of the most weighty ethical discussions to be found in Holy Writ is introduced with the popular proverb, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge,” which proves to be a way of saying that the responsibility of children is lightened, if not abolished, through their connection with their parents. In the same way, in our day, the sense of responsibility has diminished for many because of the control over character and destiny ascribed to heredity and environment. Even criminality is excused on the ground that many have never had a chance of virtue, and it is contended that to know everything is to forgive everything. J. Stalker, “Accountability,” ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 29.

Romans 8:1–4 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (NASB95)

Current and Past Teachings, Study Notes and Slides of “Through the Bible” with Pastor Ken Brown are available at: www.calvaryword.com/bible