In those days they shall no longer say:
“ ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
30 But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
My Great-grandfather owned a Christian publishing company, two coal mines, and a tourism company. The depression ensured that I would see nothing of that. If they had been ill-gotten gains, it would not fall to me to go to prison for the theft. That is the message of Jeremiah in this prophecy. Ezekiel made the same point in chapter 18:20 of his prophecy. Each person is judged on their own deeds, not those of their ancestors. Israel may have felt that God was punishing them for the sins of their fathers, but the Lord promised not to in Deuteronomy 24:16. Jeremiah gave good news about “those days”. Then it gets better. Far from punishing each for their own sins, the following verses are the first mention of the New Covenant. God will remember their sins no more!
There has been much conversation recently about present generations bearing responsibility for the sins of past generations. It is thought that some enjoy ill-gotten gains and should make restitution for it. The simple Bible truth is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and deserve eternal punishment, each for their own sins. Thank God for the cross! Jesus was nailed there for the sins of every generation past, present, and future. He bore the iniquity of us all. We need to cling to that because only the cross will bring unity. Only Jesus treats all people with the same dignity. He died for every one of us…
That is equality!