Why does God condemn the children and grandchildren of sinners?

Question

This has always puzzled me. For example one of the ten commandments, Exodus 20:5:


Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me

How is that just?

Answer 1

How about a serious answer.

There are two things that contribute to the iniquity of the father being passed to the children and grandchildren. The first is genetics. Through sin, we destroy our bodies, and this gets passed on.

The second factor is that children learn by watching others. When they see us sinning, they get the impression that it is OK, and they pick up the habbit.

God will not punish the children for the sins of their parents, but will punish them for their own sins.

Answer 2

This is the problem I have with alot of Christians; if you question something they just tell you you're stupid or don't ask. AAAAAhhhhhhh!
You have asked a very good question and one of many I have. According to the bible God doesn't even recognise me or my siblings because my mom was born on the wrong side of the sheets; like it's her fault. Her dad fooled around and she and hers are not in the sight of God. Whatever.
The christians can't say ignore this statement because it is a cornerstone of their beliefs. This is part of him saying do not put any other god before him. Not only is this a command for no other reason than that he is jealous, but he is also saying that there are Other Gods! Why do people worship a diety that is so petulant and cruel? I don't want to tear down their system so I won't go into all the other reasons I have no use for it, but I could never go there.

Answer 3

Because God does grant parents the right to bring up their children without his interference, he can describe the results to parents who follow his laws and those who do not. He said to Moses: “I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me; but exercising loving-kindness toward the thousandth generation in the case of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Ex. 20:5, 6)

There can be no doubt about it: Children brought up in the wrong way are almost sure to practice bad things and receive the recompense due for their actions.

Abraham was an example of a family head who kept God’s way and taught his children obedience to God. This proved to be a long-lasting blessing to his descendants.—Gen. 18:19; Deut. 4:37.

However, when Abraham’s descendants later turned to idolatry and other wickednesses they were taken into captivity by enemy nations. In fact, from the exile in Babylon right down to Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 CE (A.D.) the Jews were constantly under the domination of pagan world powers, first Babylon, then Persia, Greece and Rome. Descendants for many generations felt the weight of the sin of their ancestors.

Answer 4

This is talking about generational sin (a sin that runs in families).

When a family loves God and serves Him and raises their children to do the same God blesses that and the children grow up to serve and love God and teach their children to do the same ---- and so it goes from generation to generation.

The opposite is also true -- a family that has no use for God usually raise children that also have no use for God.

If we don't live a life guided by God and biblical principles we usually get into trouble with our purely human desires (with drugs, alcohol, sex, anger and jealously and such).

On the other hand when we serve God He protects us and our children and even our children's children.

It is a great privilege to grow up in a truly Christian home.

Answer 5

Actually it is worse than that. God does not like people going to church if there has been an illegitimate child in the family tree up to TEN generations ago:

Dt 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.

Answer 6

After reaching an age of responsibility, each individual is judged on the basis of his own conduct and attitude. But when the nation of Israel turned to idolatry, it suffered the consequences of this for generations thereafter. Even the faithful Israelites felt its effects in that the nation’s religious delinquency made staying on a course of integrity difficult for them.

Answer 7

Yes, but later in Isaiah God says no longer will the father eat sour grapes and the children's teeth be on edge.
This is why I don't believe God "dictated" the Bible to people who just recorded the words of God. The Bible was written by people, who had their own ideas and theologies.

Answer 8

2 answewrs:
You'll not Exodus 20:6 mentions positive things toward the 1000th generation for those being faithful.
That's quite the contrast, don't you think?
Plus
That was the Jewish system.
The Jewish system was done away with when Christ came along.
Its not the case anymore.

Answer 9

Because human (whom the ancestor is monkey) are difficult to be disciplined, so what God asking is logic, that we should live in a good manner.

Answer 10

OF THEM THAT HATE ME

Read and study scripture because there are usually qualifiers.

Ed you ask some great questions. I'm surprised you didn't catch that.