Ezekiel 18:1-3 English Standard Version

¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ² “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? ³ As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.

Where is this proverb written about the sour grapes? Has anyone every taught on a proverb that even remotely sounds like this issue of sour grapes?

Since no proverb has been shown concerning sour grapes or setting the teeth on edge, then what is the source of this proverb?

God knows what is on the hearts of mankind and knows full well what they tell themselves and each other. It stands to reason that this proverb was man made and God was not the author of it. God authored the words in Ezekiel 18 and the words in Jeremiah 31 also.

Jeremiah 31:28-30 English Standard Version

²⁸ And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the Lord. ²⁹ In those days they shall no longer say:

“‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

³⁰ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.

God quotes this proverb of man for the purpose of offering correction. Their fathers were not responsible for their sins and they shall be held accountable for their own choices.

Since we have been speaking about growth in Christ, what does this post have to do with that subject?

A mature person stops blaming others for the choices they make.

The fact that the proverb is not found in the bible should indicate that we must look within ourselves and see what foolishness we might utter that is not the truth of God.

What proverbs have we created for ourselves?

1 Timothy 4:11-13 English Standard Version

¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Moving on to the youth stage of growing in Christ, let us look to these verses as an example of things that ought to be done. Youth should be encouraged to do these things in order to raise up the next generation of leaders in our churches.

This is the way that gifts can be recognized by the mature in Christ. Youth should not be encourage to name their own gifts for the immature will fancy either the glamour or shrink back behind the scenes. Both actions will lead to misidentifying the gifts that God has given. It may well be that Paul is telling Timothy in this section that he has these gifts mentioned.

Every youth leader was at one time a pupil. Talents need to be practiced to both gain confidence and proficiency. No one is a skilled orator on their first effort. Teaching can begin with children’s classes because they just graduated from that class and the lessons are still fresh in their minds. No one gets to teach the congregation without being thoroughly vetted.

Some will seek seminary school, some will operate in their gifts without a degree. Few if any will reach the level of a doctorate in theology but it they have the talent to do so, they need to be encouraged. It is a long road to follow.

I did not compare the obstacles of worldly youth with kingdom youth because for many have already had to face and overcome those obstacles before they came to Christ. Yet they continue to nag at us.

Some accept Christ at a tender age. I will not speak to things I know nothing about.

Let that sink in.