A woman from the United Arab Emirates, who wishes to remain anonymous, writes and asks

this.

Dear Pastor John, what does it mean in Exodus 20 verse 5 that God visits the iniquity

of the fathers on the children?

Does this refer to generational sins or generational curses?

How does this principle relate to us and to our children under the new covenant?

Will my children somehow be punished for my own sins?

I suppose we should get the text, the relevant texts, in front of us, including the one that

she mentioned.

Exodus 25 goes like this, either Lord your God and a jealous God, visiting the iniquity

of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

And Exodus 34 6, the Lord visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's

children to the third and fourth generation, Leviticus 2639, because of their iniquity

and also because of the iniquities of their fathers, they shall rot away like them.

However, there are other texts, which are absolutely crucial for sorting out what the Bible

means in those first texts, Deuteronomy 24 16, fathers shall not be put to death because

of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers.

Or 2 Kings 146, Amaziah did not put to death the children of the murderers according

to what is written in the book of the law of Moses, where the Lord commanded fathers

shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death

because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin or Ezekiel 1820.

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