[malakhi]

Unless the innnocent willingly takes the place of the guilty.

I disagree. Even if the innocent is willing, it is unjust to punish the innocent for the crimes of the guilty. That, in my opinion, is the significance of the verse in question. Let me ask you -- how do you reconcile Ezekiel 18:20 with your beliefs about the sacrificial death of Jesus?

[SoothingDave]

Even if the innocent is willing, it is unjust to punish the innocent for the crimes of the guilty.

You have reached the entry point of this conversation again. Is charity unjust? In charity someone sacrifices himself and his property in order to help the unfortunate out of whatever predicament they may be in.

Is this unjust, this suffering for another? Should we instead let the poor suffer, cause taking on their "punishment" is wrong?

SD

[JohnnyM]

"how do you reconcile Ezekiel 18:20 with your beliefs about the sacrificial death of Jesus?"

I agree with Ezekial 18:20, and I dont have to reconcile anything, as if there is some contradiction going on here. Jesus was our sacrificial Lamb. Just like the Israelites sacrificed unblemished sheep and bulls for their iniquity to cleanse them, so is Christ sacrificed for our iniquity, so that we no longer have any guilt before God the Father. All our sins are washed away and we are, in effect, given the Righteousness of Jesus Christ.

JM

[ventana]

Scott Hahn has some interesting thoughts about Jesus as the Passover Lamb.

http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/4thCup.htm

[Quester]

I disagree. Even if the innocent is willing, it is unjust to punish the innocent for the crimes of the guilty. That, in my opinion, is the significance of the verse in question. Let me ask you -- how do you reconcile Ezekiel 18:20 with your beliefs about the sacrificial death of Jesus?

But isn't that the essense of the sacrificial system which God commanded for the Israelites ? If death (whether of the guilty of a sacrifice) is not required, what is God doing with the Israelites in the Old Testament ?