Sour Grapes

• “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge.” (Ezek. 18:2)

Introduction. After God tried everything to lead them to repentance (Jer. 25), a small remnant of Judah was taken captive in Babylon. Rather than take responsibility and change their behavior, they had created the proverb noted above to put the full blame on their parents. God had promised forgiveness and restoration from captivity through repentance (Deut. 30), but this proverb was a major hindrance for any desire to repent. In their minds, since they didn’t eat the “sour grapes” they refused to take responsibility for their own sins. But until they repented, they could not be saved.
 
The sentiment of Israel’s “sour grapes” still reverberates today. Instead of taking responsibility for their choices, multitudes today prefer to be a victim, taking no responsibility for their own actions and having no desire to change. Although heredity and environment do play a role in our weaknesses and temptations, guilt can only be imputed by our own choices and removing that guilt through repentance can also only be done by our choices. “It’s not my fault”, “I’m only human”, and blaming others is the new “sour grapes” proverb today.
 
Infant baptism is a clear sign many still believe their guilt was incurred from Adam’s sin. Augustine (354 – 430 A.D.) is recognized as the father of the doctrine of original sin. As a youth, he had chosen to follow a path of sinful pleasure. Instead of accepting “he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption” (Gal. 6:8) and seeking to root out the corruption his choices created, Augustine blamed Adam. Essentially he claimed his wickedness was not his fault.  Blaming Adam allowed him to feel more comfortable in sin. He resurrected the proverb of “sour grapes.” It became, Adam ate “sour grapes” when he sinned in the garden and all of Adam’s children, including Augustine, are born with their “teeth set on edge.”

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