The Iniquities of the Fathers

"...Let his blood be on us and on our children." -Matthew 27:25b


God is merciful.

I have often wondered how many of the crowd who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with hosanas stood in Pilate's court a week later, angrily calling for his death and for bloodguilt upon their own heads and those of their children.

How many of them lived thirty-odd years to see Jerusalem destroyed and their temple razed to the ground? Do you think their thoughts flashed back to memories of their rejection of the Christ of God?

Woe is pronounced by Jesus on those who would cause others to sin. We are warned to not provoke our children, but to raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

We have seen generational strongholds; bitterness, anger and others, exhibited before children by their parents and thus these patterns of behavior are passed down.

Yet God is merciful and will not pass final judgment on anyone except "for their deeds and according to the works of their own hands (Jeremiah 25:14 and others)."

And in this light I remember the Day of Pentecost. And I wonder how many of those who had screamed, "Crucify him," now stood, convicted by the Holy Spirit and by Peter's words. Less than two months after they had called for Jesus' death, how many were "pricked in their hearts," crying out "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

One other thing. Brother Billy recently called attention to Job, that he interceded for his adult children "continually," in case they might have sinned.

I think that one of the most grievous consequences of our sin is to see the pain in the hearts of those led astray by our bad example.

But this I recall and therefore I have hope: The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children (Psalm 103:8:17)."

Praise the LORD, O my soul.