Iniquity Of The Fathers Upon The Sons To The Third And Fourth Generation

Iniquity Of The Fathers Upon The Sons To The Third And Fourth Generation

Published 20151211 -:- Revised 20250829

NB: I am dyslexic so please bear with me. Even if I did a ‘spell cheque it dose’ not help me with corrections.

Introduction

Have you ever been to a healing or prayer meeting? If so have you ever noticed that in the course of the preaching leading up to the alter call, the speaker might add in some comment about, “the curses of the fathers to the third and forth generation”. Then heaps of people will come out to the front for prayer, because they feel guilty for what their parents, grand parents or great grand parents have done in the past! That is totally unscriptural! And God would love to set you free of that “gilt trip” if you would just give Him and His WORD the opportunity and listen, 

Aim

My aim is to shed the light of the WORD of God on the erroneous teaching about, “the curses to the third and forth generation”.

Reason

The WORD of God clearly states that, you and you alone, are responsible for your sins only. You do not have to “pay interest” so to speak for the backlog of the sins of your forbears. Anything taught other wise is lying teaching! It is nothing more than a stage show, divisive move to boost alter call numbers, and give the appearance that, “the guest speaker can really get them in!” The truth about this lying teaching should be shouted from the rooftops!

References & Equipment

MKJ       =Bible references are from the Modern King James Bible unless noted otherwise.

CN          =e-Sword Commentary Notes by “NAME” on Bible Ref “BOOK CH: verse” e.g. [ref CN Clark on Dan 7:7].

What Scriptures is This Teaching Based On?

There are four scriptures that give reference to this issue of generational curses. Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18 and Deuteronomy 5:9. As usual it is always best to study scriptures on the bases of ‘first mention’. Basically the first time God mentions a particular subject, He spells out the full story. Any following reference is often abbreviated and the inference is that God is just giving us a reminder.  It’s like when we tell our kids, “Put your toys away”. You don’t need to go into detail adding the rest of the house rule comments like,

“Or they will get lost in the grass and could get rained on, and if I don’t see them when I am mowing the lawn they will get bracken!”

So lets check these scriptures in order and see if there are any differences and under line the difference.

Exo 20:5 You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me,

Exo 34:7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the sons, and on the sons of sons, to the third and to the fourth generation.

Num 14:18 Jehovah is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation.

Deu 5:9 You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me,

“Of those who hate Me”… well that’s an interesting comment that is often conveniently left out when people make reference to generational curses. Let me ask you a simple question. “Do you HAT GOD?” NO! Then obviously that scripture does not apply to you? It sort of comes under the category of knowing your relationship with God through Christ Jesus. Rom 13:12 “…let us put on the armour of light.” And Eph 6:11 “Put on the whole armour of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” If you let your guard down and believe a lie from Satan that you are under generational curses, then he gets in under your armour and has a field day with self worth. Suddenly you are on a downward spiralling guilt trip.

Debunking Generational Curses

For years, whenever I heard preaching about the “generational curses” I often felt like I would get an agree whiteness in my spirit. When we got home from church my wife would tell me, “Drop it, its just one of your pet hats, it’s not an important issue. GET Over It!” So over the years ‘I got over it’ and I would say nothing. Until years later when one day we came home from church and my wife was all agitated about what was preached at church, and she asked me, “What was the scripture you had against curses to the third and forth generation stuff?” To which I replied, “The fathers eat sour grapes and the children’s teeth are on edge”. “And it seems to debunk the whole idea of generational curses.” So we got motivated into a full Sunday afternoon study for some hours. And we found the following passages of great interest.

The first one in Ezekiel is quite lengthy! But when you consider God is telling Ezekiel that He is fed up with hearing that misleading proverb as well; then He tells Ezekiel in no uncertain terms what to do with that proverb! I will just quote it as is, it needs NO explanation. 

Ezekiel Chapter 18 (English Standard Version)

Eze 18:1 The word of the LORD came to me: v:2  "What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? v:3 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. v:4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

Eze 18:5 "If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— v:6 if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbour’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, v:7 does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, v:8  does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, v:9 walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord GOD.

Eze 18:10 "If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things v:11 (though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbour’s wife, v:12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, v:13 lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.

Eze 18:14 "Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise: v:15 he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbour’s wife, v:16 does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, v:17 withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live.

Eze 18:18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity. v:19 Yet you say, 'Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?' When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. v:20 he soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

Eze 18:21 "But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. v:22 None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. v:23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

Eze 18:24 But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. v:25 "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? v:26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die.

Eze 18:27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. v:28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

Eze 18:29 Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? v:30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. v:31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?

Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live." … End Quote

That as I said is quite a lengthy passage and I reckon that is quite clear-cut! God give Ezekiel some classic examples of generational problems. These days we would hear these same things being raised as a good case for why a Christian is under a generational curse! Yet in this passage God is clearly saying that each soul is only responsible for their own actions. The sins of their forbears are of no importance. You yourself have made a decision for Christ and confessed Christ as your Lord and saviour. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapters 6 and 7, “You are bought with a price”. That is the blood of Christ paid for your sins IN FULL! You are a NEW CREATION! 

The only way you could see the fulfilment of generational curses is if each successive generation continues to reject God.

You Are A NEW CREATION

When my wife and I were doing the study on this topic, the Lord reminded us of numerous other scriptures. Passages that very clearly show, that when we invite Christ into our heart and soul, He virtually does a complete renovation with in us. We are A NEW CREATION! Lets just quote them as we found them on the basis of “catch phrases”. I might and a short comment as to why I find each passage of significance.

Jas 5:15 “And the prayer of faith will cure the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.”

Born Again

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again.

1Pe 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living Word of God, and abiding forever.

1Co 1:30 (JUB) But of him ye are reborn in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

New Creation

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision has any strength, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. v:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God.

Eph 2:15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity (the Law of commandments contained in ordinances) so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, making peace between them;

Eph 4:24 And you should put on the new man, who according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness.

2Co 5:17 So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. v:18 And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; v:19 whereas God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and putting the word of reconciliation in us. v:20 Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. v:21 For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Paul Spoke As If He Was A NEW MAN

This verse is very interesting. Remember Paul in Acts 9:1 “And Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest v:2 and asked letters from him to Damascus to the synagogues; so that if he found any of the Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

Then Paul later writes to the Corinthians and says this in 2Co 7:2 (KJV) “Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man”. How can Paul say, “he has wronged ON man?” The reason being is that on the road to Damascus Saul DIED, and he was renamed PAUL, and Paul was a NEW MAN in Christ! And Paul, being a New Man, had wronged no man!

Christ Paid It ALL

Isa 53:5  But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed. v:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; and Jehovah has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Zec_3:9  For behold! I will bring forth My Servant the Branch. For behold the stone that I have set before Joshua: On one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its engraving, says Jehovah of Hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. [ref CN Gill on Zec 3:9]

Your Sins Are Completely Gone From Record

Psa 103:11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is His mercy toward those who fear Him. v:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Heb 10:15  The Holy Spirit also is a witness to us; for after He had said before, v:16  "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put My Laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," v:17  also He adds, "their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more."

Heb 8:10  "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. v:11 And they shall not each man teach his neighbour, and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. v:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more."

Conclusion

Ezekiel 18 is so clearly telling us that we are each an individual before God. You have only yourself to blame for your separation from the love of God. What ever your parents, grand parents, great grand parents or even great great grand parents have done in the past, it has no bearing on your relationship with God. When you accept Christ as your Lord and saviour your sins are ‘Wiped OFF the Slate’. It is as if you have never sinned! God in His word says "their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more."

So if some visiting preacher reminds you of your wicked past! Or raises the possibility of unrepented sins of your forbears! Then tries to put you on a gilt trip, he has no right to do that! What’s more it is an insult to God; because you are virtually saying, “God I don’t believe that You have forgiven me of my sins!” The devil is putting you under his thump, and throwing lies at you! He has done that for thousands of years.

You are a New Creation, a joint-heir with Christ, so live like!  

God bless Ya!

Yours Adrian Deacon