Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
On the "Jews for Judaism" website we read:
All these Jews prove is the fact that they do not really understand what these verses are teaching. In both instances the discussion revolves around a proverb that was going around at that time:
"What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?" (Ez.18:2).
The point of the proverb was that the children were suffering because of their parent's sin. So these people were blaming the LORD for punishing them unjustly:
"Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?" (Ez.18:25).
So what is being said is that people will not be punished because of what other's did but instead as a result of ones own sin.
Nothing said in these verses forbid the idea that the Lord Jesus was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. In fact, the OT speaks of a substitutionary atonement:
Throughout the Bible, G-d says that one person cannot die for the sins of another:
“But everyone will die for his own sin; each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge” (Jeremiah 31:30).
“The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20).
“But everyone will die for his own sin; each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge” (Jeremiah 31:30).
“The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20).
All these Jews prove is the fact that they do not really understand what these verses are teaching. In both instances the discussion revolves around a proverb that was going around at that time:
"What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?" (Ez.18:2).
The point of the proverb was that the children were suffering because of their parent's sin. So these people were blaming the LORD for punishing them unjustly:
"Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?" (Ez.18:25).
So what is being said is that people will not be punished because of what other's did but instead as a result of ones own sin.
"That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live" (Ez.18:17).
Nothing said in these verses forbid the idea that the Lord Jesus was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. In fact, the OT speaks of a substitutionary atonement:
"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock....And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him" (Lev.1:2,4).
