James Collins asks: Hey brothers, I attend an Apostolic Church. My wife and I, have seen people being prayed for not get healed. Our leaders kept telling them that they were under a generational curse. Are generational curses Biblical?

God Bless James,

Generational curses is an issue that is not taught anywhere in scripture. Instead, the teachers of this notion violate the plain of scripture by taking a verse completly out of context. It has been used in many instances as an excuse to justify why a certain healer could not heal someone, as if they had powers to do so in the first place.

The verse in question is found in Exodus 20:5 "I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me." First of all, Christians immediately fall away from this category, since Christians love God. In fact, the very next verse reads "but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." This would be the category Christians fall under.

According to the Jewish Targum, Exodus 20:5 is in reference to ungodly fathers and rebellious children. Therefore, it is not curses that are past down through generations, but rather consequences are past down. A perfect example of this would be a child who suffers neglect and abuse from drug addict parents. Typically, these children will grow up to follow in their parents footsteps.

Secondly, Ezekiel 18:2-4 teaches directly against this notion, "What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: "The Parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child-both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die".

Lastly, the only actual curse that we find in the Bible that has been passed on through generations is the curse of sin; in which, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). A curse that was broken by our Lord Jesus, as we are told in Romans 5:18 "Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people". Therefore, if there were such thing as a generational curse, the only method of breaking it would be to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Hope this helps. We will leave you with these verses:

2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 8:1- Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

Deuteronomy 24:16- Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death because for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin.

Comments:

James Collins: Thanks for your time, I don't even understand where they arrive at the conclusion of Exodus speaking of a curse. It definitely doesn't say that.

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: No problem brother. It definitely does not teach that.

James Collins: Well said. Thanks!

BRC Hosts Joey and Chris: Be blessed!

Yolanda Mayor: Thank you for explaining this. Very easy to understand.

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Romans 8:1

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"