Here the Lord is asking Ezekiel a question. He asks him why do they continue to use the old proverb when you refer to the land of Israel.  The proverb is, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”. This proverb means that the children are being punished for the sins of the fathers. As surely as I live the Lord said you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. By saying ‘As surely as I live’ the Lord is making a solemn oath. Since there is no one greater than Him, He is swearing on His own life. This proverb was mistakenly used in Exodus 20:5 and Numbers 14:18. The current generation believes that they were punished for the sins of their fathers and generations before them. God declares to Ezekiel that everyone belongs to Him. The parents as well as the children. It was not His will that the sins of one generation be passed to the following generation. If a person sinned it will be attributed to him or her and no one else. No one will be required to die for another person’s sin.

God goes on to say if there is a man that is just and does what is lawful and right. And if he does not eat at the mountain shrines and does not worship idols of Israel. He does not commit sexual immoralities. He refuses to oppress people and he does not keep any collateral for a loan from a borrower. He provides bread for the hungry and gives clothes to the naked. This man does not charge interest on loans or try to exploit his fellow man. He stays away from wrongdoing and is fair and equitable in his dealings with two parties. The Lord says if he does all these things and follow the Lord’s decrees and faithfully keeps His laws, this man shall truly live. Now the Lord declares to Israel that he will judge each one of them. I will punish and reward each person according to their own actions, said the Lord. God urges them to turn from their sins and to receive a new heart and a new spirit. God takes no pleasure in seeing anyone die. He tells us to repent and live.