Generational Curses?

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 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 parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6

Some people use the last couple verses of this commandment to support the idea of “generational curses,” and by that they mean the idea that God curses the children of parents who disobey him. There are a couple of problems with this interpretation. First, this would go directly against God's standard in Deuteronomy 24:16: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.” Second and most importantly, these verses were meant to teach something different. God spoke these words to explain how much he hates idolatry because of its potential to pervert successive generations. 

Idolatry was an attractive option to people in the Old Testament. It was the normal religion in the ancient world and a constant temptation for the Israelites. God knew that this temptation would be all the greater if an Israelite was raised in a family that worshipped idols. Here and elsewhere*, God said these words to warn children that he will punish them if they continue doing the same sins as their parents did. In other words, God won't give the next generation a break from his punishment because they are “innocently” following in their parents' footsteps. Instead, God will punish everyone who disobeys him, even if he punished their parents for the same sins, "to the third and fourth generation." 

This warning lies in stark contrast to God's true desire: to bless those who keep his commandments "to a thousand generations." This numerical difference highlights God's greatest desire: to abundantly bless those who are loyal to him.

Exodus 20:4-6 teaches us several things: that God hates idolatry, that he will always punish sin (even if that's just the way we were raised), and that he deeply wants us to obey him so he can reward us. However, it does not teach that God will punish children because their parents sinned. Simply put, "generational curses" are not taught in the Bible. Christians and non-Christians alike should not be afraid of God punishing them for sins their parents committed.

That said, when many people say "generational curses," they are speaking of the tendency of children to sin in the same way their parents did. Exodus 20:4-6 does not deny this pattern. In fact, it acknowledges it. Just as idolatry can be easily passed on to the next generation, so can sins like abuse, divorce, and alcoholism. Parents who have committed their lives to Jesus should make it their goal to break these sinful family traditions by the power of the Holy Spirit. A belief in “generational curses” can make Christians think that there is no escape from inherited traits and behavioral patterns. The Bible teaches directly against this way of thinking. Romans 6:11 tells us to count ourselves “dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Christians do not have to sin anymore, even if we are inclined to sin in the same way our parents did.

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

By God’s Grace,

Pastor Stephen

*See Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9, and Jeremiah 32:18.