Let’s begin by looking at a couple of ‘so called’ family, or generational curses found in the Bible.  We read in Exodus 20:3-5, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, VISITING THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHERS UPON THE CHILDREN UNTO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION of them that hate me.”  We also read in Numbers 14:18, “The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, VISITING THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHERS UPON THE CHILDREN UNTO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION.” 

It is thought that these family or generational curses are essentially curses that, after being cast upon one member of the family, proceed to pass down the family line to their children and to their children’s children, and so forth, affecting the lives of generations of people.  It is obvious that patterns of sin are passed down through families. Everyone sins; but just as culture, background, and gender guide our patterns of sin in particular directions, so do our families.  Oftentimes, if the parents drink alcohol or take illegal drugs, the children also pick up the habit.  Habits such as smoking, swearing, violence, etc. are often passed down to the children simply by the example being set by the parents.  We inherit many traits and preferences from our parents that aren’t always a positive influence on ourselves or others. When we develop a sinful habit or belief that negatively affects our lives or those around us, this might be mistakenly thought of as a generational curse. 

So, we can see that true ‘generational curses’ do not exist in the Bible.  Today, some people think they have inherited demons ranging from anger to alcoholism, from laziness to lust. On closer examination, however, this notion is not found in the Bible.  In the examples given above, we see that if someone has no love for the Lord and has idols in his life, his lifestyle will most likely be adopted by his/her children.  These are not curses that are passed down, but the consequences of ungodly behavior by the parents that is adopted by the children. Is it possible to break this cycle of bad behavior and consequences? 

Let us consider the words of Ezekiel 18:20-21, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. THE SON SHALL NOT BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE FATHER, NEITHER SHALL THE FATHER BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE SON: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”  Could this be any clearer?  Each person receives the consequences of his/her own actions.  There is no family, or generational curse. 

For the believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, we read in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”  If you are a believer on the Lord Jesus, there is no curse upon you.  Rather, you are free from the condemnation (judgment) of God because the Lord Jesus Christ endured the wrath of God on your behalf.  1 Peter 2:24 tells us that, “(Christ) his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”  We also read in Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.

My friend, if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, you are not cursed.  Christ was made a curse for you and has redeemed you!  Because of that, you have been made “the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).  (469.4)