Nov. 18, 2009
Generational Sins
II Thess. 2:7 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work. . .” (KJV) or “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work. . .” (NIV)
Have you ever wondered why alcoholic parents have alcoholic children? Or the children of a man who is a liar and a thief will be be prone to the same sins? Why don’t the children engage in different sins? Learned behavior patterns are a contributing factor, but they don’t totally explain it.
Exodus 20:5-6
5* You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6* but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (NIV)
I. The Family of the Herods
A. First generation -- Herod the Great
Matt. 2:1-3
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. (NIV)
Herod “the Great” was part Jewish and part Idumean, i.e. an Edomite or descendant of Esau. Esau hated the things of God and his descendants, the Edomites, hated the things of God. There were never good relations between these “cousins,” the Jews and the Edomites. Herod the Great was half-Idumean and half-Jewish.
Herod the Great had issues, issues which resulted in him murdering his own family members. Yet, he scrupulously observed the Mosaic dietary laws. Caesar Augustus jested, “I would rather be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.”
God was trying to intervene in Herod’s life. In Herod’s case, God sent the wise men to Herod, and they told him about the star of Bethlehem. Herod went to his scribes and asked, “Can you find anything that would help me know if this really is the king of the Jews?”
The scribes told Herod, “In the Word it says someone is to be born in Bethlehem and He is to be the King.” They gave Herod the Word of God. What does the Word bring? Light. The Light of the Word of God was knocking at Herod’s door.
What did Herod do with the light? He refused it, then committed a great atrocity -- the mass murder of the Jewish boy babies under two years of age.
B. Second generation -- Herod Antipas
Herod the Great had a son, Herod Antipas. God tried to deal with Herod Antipas. (Mark 6:14-28) Herod Antipas had married Herodias, who was still married to his brother, Philip. John Baptist confronted Herod, resulting in John’s imprisonment. So much for freedom of speech.
Mark 6:20
“. . Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.” (NIV)
Herod was touched by John’s preaching, though. Herod’s heart was being turned. But one night Herod had a big birthday party. It was a drunken brawl. Herodias brought out her glamorous daughter, Salome -- who was not Herod’s daughter, but his niece -- and she danced for them. Herod ended up offering her anything she wanted, up to half the kingdom. So Salome ran to her mother and asked, “What shall I ask for?” Well, Herodias was mad about John’s preaching, and told her to asked for the head of John the Baptist. John was murdered. Herod Antipas acted in violence and cruelty, just like his father.
C. Third generation -- Herod Agrippa
Acts 12:1-5
1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. (NIV)
I would have said, “Forget them!” But God kept trying to reach the Herod family. Here is the third generation -- Herod Agrippa. Herod Agrippa threw Peter in jail, intending to kill him. The Jews were happy that Peter was in jail. Herod was politically minded, and knew that pleasing the Jews was beneficial for him. God reached out to Herod Agrippa. God sent an angel to release Peter (Acts 12:6-10), and Herod heard of the miracle.
Acts 12:18-19
18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. . . (NIV)
Anytime a miracle occurs, God is trying to deal with people. God was trying to get Herod Agrippa to repent. Instead of repenting, Herod murdered the guards. He continued the violence and cruelty of his father and grandfather before him.
Acts 12:21-23
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.
22 They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."
23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. (NIV)
God judged Herod Agrippa.
D. Fourth generation -- Herod Agrippa II
Herod Agrippa II was the next Herod in this family’s lineage. We read of him in Acts 25-26. He was the great-grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa II was called to listen to a man in a courtroom. The man was Paul. God was sending the best of the best of His warriors.
Acts 26:24-28
24 And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knows of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believe thou the prophets? I know that thou believe.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuade me to be a Christian. (KJV)
Paul said, “King Agrippa, I know you’re not ignorant of these things.” God wanted to turn the entire Herod family around. They could have done much good for the cause of Christ.
King Agrippa’s reply is quite sad. “Paul, you almost persuaded me to become a Christian.” “Almost” is not enough. You need to be fully persuaded. Herod Agrippa II lost his chance, and he was the fourth generation.
Herod Agrippa II was the last of his family. They were the rulers of their country, constantly trying to please people in order to continue their rule, but they lost it all.
History tells us that Herod Agrippa II lost his position and bought a farm on Mount Vesuvius to live out the rest of his life in shame and exile. Mount Vesuvius was not a good place to buy a farm, because when it erupted and destroyed all the countryside, that was the end of the Herods.
God dealt with each Herod, and each one rejected Him. The sins of the fathers were visited on the children for four generations, and God tried to break the curse at each generation.
Exodus 20:5
5* You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
II. The Jews
Matt. 27:24-26
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
25 All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (NIV)
The Jews who stood there before Pilate that day willingly took a curse upon themselves and their descendants. From then until the present age, great suffering has been inflicted upon the Jewish people.
Pogroms -- throughout the Middle Ages. They would be driven from their lands, their property confiscated by the government. Think Fiddler on the Roof. They weren’t wandering Jews by choice.
Holocaust -- property destroyed or confiscated, concentration camps.
These persecutions are the reason Jews typically don’t farm today. They encourage higher education. The reasoning is that property can be taken away, but what is in your head (education) cannot be taken away.
III. Continuing in the Sins of the Forefathers
Deut. 30:19
19* This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, (NIV)
“Choose life, that you and your children may live..” “Children” refers to descendants, not just one generation.
Lev. 26:39, 40a, 42
39 Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their fathers' sins they will waste away.
40 "`But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers. . .
42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
Choose to follow God. Confess sin and iniquity. Iniquity - that bent toward sin, that tendency to fall into the same sins which plagued your forefathers, generations before you.
I chose to follow God at a relatively young age. I served Him to the best of my ability and knowledge. The oddity is that my children have the same problems that my parents and siblings have or had, problems that have not plagued me personally, problems that are not learned behavior patterns because we didn’t do those things.
Conclusion
Jesus came to break the mystery of iniquity, that secret power of lawlessness, the curse, the power of sin, off people’s lives. He came as a baby, grew up, experienced the temptations we suffer.
Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to search your life and the lives of your family. Ask God to show you any sins you need to confess, any problems which plague your family. Then, confess them as sin/iniquity. God will forgive and cleanse.
Have you ever wondered why alcoholic parents have alcoholic children? Or the children of a man who is a liar and a thief will be be prone to the same sins? Why don’t the children engage in different sins? Learned behavior patterns are a contributing factor, but they don’t totally explain it.
Exodus 20:5-6
5* You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6* but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (NIV)
I. The Family of the Herods
A. First generation -- Herod the Great
Matt. 2:1-3
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem
2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. (NIV)
Herod “the Great” was part Jewish and part Idumean, i.e. an Edomite or descendant of Esau. Esau hated the things of God and his descendants, the Edomites, hated the things of God. There were never good relations between these “cousins,” the Jews and the Edomites. Herod the Great was half-Idumean and half-Jewish.
Herod the Great had issues, issues which resulted in him murdering his own family members. Yet, he scrupulously observed the Mosaic dietary laws. Caesar Augustus jested, “I would rather be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son.”
God was trying to intervene in Herod’s life. In Herod’s case, God sent the wise men to Herod, and they told him about the star of Bethlehem. Herod went to his scribes and asked, “Can you find anything that would help me know if this really is the king of the Jews?”
The scribes told Herod, “In the Word it says someone is to be born in Bethlehem and He is to be the King.” They gave Herod the Word of God. What does the Word bring? Light. The Light of the Word of God was knocking at Herod’s door.
What did Herod do with the light? He refused it, then committed a great atrocity -- the mass murder of the Jewish boy babies under two years of age.
B. Second generation -- Herod Antipas
Herod the Great had a son, Herod Antipas. God tried to deal with Herod Antipas. (Mark 6:14-28) Herod Antipas had married Herodias, who was still married to his brother, Philip. John Baptist confronted Herod, resulting in John’s imprisonment. So much for freedom of speech.
Mark 6:20
“. . Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.” (NIV)
Herod was touched by John’s preaching, though. Herod’s heart was being turned. But one night Herod had a big birthday party. It was a drunken brawl. Herodias brought out her glamorous daughter, Salome -- who was not Herod’s daughter, but his niece -- and she danced for them. Herod ended up offering her anything she wanted, up to half the kingdom. So Salome ran to her mother and asked, “What shall I ask for?” Well, Herodias was mad about John’s preaching, and told her to asked for the head of John the Baptist. John was murdered. Herod Antipas acted in violence and cruelty, just like his father.
C. Third generation -- Herod Agrippa
Acts 12:1-5
1 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.
2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. (NIV)
I would have said, “Forget them!” But God kept trying to reach the Herod family. Here is the third generation -- Herod Agrippa. Herod Agrippa threw Peter in jail, intending to kill him. The Jews were happy that Peter was in jail. Herod was politically minded, and knew that pleasing the Jews was beneficial for him. God reached out to Herod Agrippa. God sent an angel to release Peter (Acts 12:6-10), and Herod heard of the miracle.
Acts 12:18-19
18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.
19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. . . (NIV)
Anytime a miracle occurs, God is trying to deal with people. God was trying to get Herod Agrippa to repent. Instead of repenting, Herod murdered the guards. He continued the violence and cruelty of his father and grandfather before him.
Acts 12:21-23
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.
22 They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."
23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. (NIV)
God judged Herod Agrippa.
D. Fourth generation -- Herod Agrippa II
Herod Agrippa II was the next Herod in this family’s lineage. We read of him in Acts 25-26. He was the great-grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa II was called to listen to a man in a courtroom. The man was Paul. God was sending the best of the best of His warriors.
Acts 26:24-28
24 And as he thus spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knows of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believe thou the prophets? I know that thou believe.
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuade me to be a Christian. (KJV)
Paul said, “King Agrippa, I know you’re not ignorant of these things.” God wanted to turn the entire Herod family around. They could have done much good for the cause of Christ.
King Agrippa’s reply is quite sad. “Paul, you almost persuaded me to become a Christian.” “Almost” is not enough. You need to be fully persuaded. Herod Agrippa II lost his chance, and he was the fourth generation.
Herod Agrippa II was the last of his family. They were the rulers of their country, constantly trying to please people in order to continue their rule, but they lost it all.
History tells us that Herod Agrippa II lost his position and bought a farm on Mount Vesuvius to live out the rest of his life in shame and exile. Mount Vesuvius was not a good place to buy a farm, because when it erupted and destroyed all the countryside, that was the end of the Herods.
God dealt with each Herod, and each one rejected Him. The sins of the fathers were visited on the children for four generations, and God tried to break the curse at each generation.
Exodus 20:5
5* You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
II. The Jews
Matt. 27:24-26
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"
25 All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (NIV)
The Jews who stood there before Pilate that day willingly took a curse upon themselves and their descendants. From then until the present age, great suffering has been inflicted upon the Jewish people.
Pogroms -- throughout the Middle Ages. They would be driven from their lands, their property confiscated by the government. Think Fiddler on the Roof. They weren’t wandering Jews by choice.
Holocaust -- property destroyed or confiscated, concentration camps.
These persecutions are the reason Jews typically don’t farm today. They encourage higher education. The reasoning is that property can be taken away, but what is in your head (education) cannot be taken away.
III. Continuing in the Sins of the Forefathers
Deut. 30:19
19* This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live, (NIV)
“Choose life, that you and your children may live..” “Children” refers to descendants, not just one generation.
Lev. 26:39, 40a, 42
39 Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their fathers' sins they will waste away.
40 "`But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers. . .
42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
Choose to follow God. Confess sin and iniquity. Iniquity - that bent toward sin, that tendency to fall into the same sins which plagued your forefathers, generations before you.
I chose to follow God at a relatively young age. I served Him to the best of my ability and knowledge. The oddity is that my children have the same problems that my parents and siblings have or had, problems that have not plagued me personally, problems that are not learned behavior patterns because we didn’t do those things.
Conclusion
Jesus came to break the mystery of iniquity, that secret power of lawlessness, the curse, the power of sin, off people’s lives. He came as a baby, grew up, experienced the temptations we suffer.
Pray, asking the Holy Spirit to search your life and the lives of your family. Ask God to show you any sins you need to confess, any problems which plague your family. Then, confess them as sin/iniquity. God will forgive and cleanse.