Ezekiel 18:10

Ezekiel 18:10 says, If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,  God then begins to talk about children who are not living by God’s laws or in a covenant relationship with Him.  As parents, we can influence the way our children live by both our words and the way we live, but we cannot force them to live righteously.  It will always be their choice.   

Verse eleven adds, And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,  God once again lists some of the sins that the children might commit, beginning with worshipping other gods and then coveting his neighbor's wife.  We are to be true to God’s word, and if we are, we will always want what is best of our neighbors and never covet what is theirs.   

Verse twelve continues, Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,   God said that the people of Israel had oppressed the poor instead of helping them, and it seems that we too often do the same thing today even while calling ourselves a Christian nation.  They did not restore things that were pledged to them to in order to secure a loan, I believe, maybe if they couldn’t repay it.  Of course, they were also not supposed to use usury if they gave a loan, and today, many timers those who lend to others, whether by credit card or even a bank loan often charge a high rate of interest and if the borrower doesn’t repay it or even falls too far behind in payment, the lender will try to take whatever they can from the one that the loaned it to.  The people of Israel were also worshipping false gods when they were doing this.  All of these things were considered an abomination to God.  They still are today, I believe.   

Verse thirteen concludes, Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.  God continued to speak about taking things from others because of usury, even taking the increase from it, and asked if those who did this would live.  We often think of worshipping physical idols as the way that people worship idols, but I believe that it can often be putting material things and the desire to increase our wealth ahead of helping those who are in need.