Exodus 20:5

[Scott_D]

Hello out there:

I’m looking for a clear answer on what Catholic theology says about Exodus 20:5. Specifically, sins of the fathers being handed down to the sons (and daughters I assume). I know there is personal responsibility for sin, but I don’t know how to take that verse. I’ve also read the catechism and I don’t really understand that either. What I want to know in a nutshell is, are the sins of our ancestors handed down to us or not?

 

[Will_B]

There is more to it then I’m about to write, but for today’s understanding:

Parents lead by example… A child observes a parent sinning, then the child will assume that sin isn’t really a sin because Dad did it…

Example: Dad commits adultery a lot and Junior knows it… Junior gets married and doesn’t really take is vowels seriously, after all Dad didn’t, so Junior commits adultery. It may take generations to stop this sin…

Name a sin, any sin: If the parent does it, then child will assume it’s OK… Until the Child learns to love Jesus more then Mom and Dad.

 

[meltzerboy]

Hello out there:

I’m looking for a clear answer on what Catholic theology says about Exodus 20:5. Specifically, sins of the fathers being handed down to the sons (and daughters I assume). I know there is personal responsibility for sin, but I don’t know how to take that verse. I’ve also read the catechism and I don’t really understand that either. What I want to know in a nutshell is, are the sins of our ancestors handed down to us or not?

There are several interpretations of this verse from a Jewish perspective. One is in the form of a didactic lesson for parents that their children learn by example and may imitate their parents’ sinful behaviors. It is therefore important for parents to teach their children proper moral values so that their own sins are NOT passed down to successive generations.

 

[hockeyfan]

Hello out there:

I’m looking for a clear answer on what Catholic theology says about Exodus 20:5. Specifically, sins of the fathers being handed down to the sons (and daughters I assume). I know there is personal responsibility for sin, but I don’t know how to take that verse. I’ve also read the catechism and I don’t really understand that either. What I want to know in a nutshell is, are the sins of our ancestors handed down to us or not?

I am going to try to give you the Readers Digest version of this and not give you a long theological discourse. Remember the context of who was being spoken too. In the Old Testament some things worked differently. (Not all things, but this applies) Remember that when Jesus healed a lot of the blind and other people with different problems, Jesus would say things like “You are forgiven of your sins.” To put it simply, it doesn’t work like that anymore.

I hope this helped.

 

[Scott_D]

Thanks to all:

Yes your posts helped immensely. Therefore, the sins of our ancestors are learned behavior and the chain needs to be broken (kind of like alcoholism in my family). That makes sense. Thanks and peace!