Ezekiel 18:21-24

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:23

Verse 23 He confirms the same sentiment in other words, that God desires nothing more earnestly than that those who were perishing and rushing to destruction should return into the way of safety. And for this reason not only is the Gospel spread abroad in the world, but God wished to bear witness through all ages how inclined he is to pity. For although the heathen were destitute of the law and the prophets, yet they were always endued with some taste of this doctrine. Truly enough they were... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:24

Verse 24 As in the last lecture the Prophet offered to sinners a sure hope of pardon if they heartily repented, and promised that God would be propitious to them as soon as they shall seek reconciliation with him: so now, on the other hand, he pronounces,if the just shall decline from his justice, whatever he has hitherto done, shall not come into the account before God. He urged sinners to repentance when he assured them that God was prepared to pardon them: but he now frightens those who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:5-24

God's remonstrance with man's reason. It is an act of singular kindness that God should stoop to reason with the perverted mind of man. It had been a pleasure to instruct the uncorrupted mind; but now that the instrument is injured, it requires infinitely more patience and skill to deal with it. Yet God deigns to explain his principles of rule, and will eventually vindicate, as supremely just, every secret act. But sinful men are self-blinded. I. WE ARE REMINDED OF MAN 'S ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19-22

Personal responsibility. We can only account for the Prophet Ezekiel laying such special stress upon the principle of individuality in religion by supposing that, in his time and among those with whom he associated, there was a prevalent disposition and habit leading to the denial of what seems to us an unquestionable truth. Indeed, in some form or other, men do incline to shift responsibility from themselves to their parents, their early teachers, their companions, the society in which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:21-22

But if the wicked will turn, etc. Here, however, there is a distinct advance. The question is carried further into the relations between the past and the present of the same man, between his old and his new self. And in answering that question also Ezekiel becomes the preacher of a gospel. The judgment of God deals with each man according to his present state, not his past. Repentance and conversion and obedience shall cancel, as it were, the very memory of his former sins (Ezekiel's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:21-29

Moral transformations and their consequences. "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes," etc. In this paragraph the vindication of the moral government of God is advanced another stage. Already it has been shown that the son does not die for his father's sins, or live for his father's righteousness. Only the soul that sinneth shall die; only the soul that is righteous shall live. Now the prophet proceeds to show that "so far from the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:23

Have I any pleasure, etc.? Ezekiel's anticipations of the gospel of Christ take a yet wider range, and we come at last to what had been throughout the suppressed premise of the argument. To him, as afterwards to St. Paul ( 1 Timothy 2:4 ) and St. Peter ( 2 Peter 3:9 ), the mind of God was presented as being at once absolutely righteous and absolutely loving. The death of the wicked, the loss, i.e; of true life, for a time, or even forever, might be the necessary consequence of laws... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:23

How God views the death of the wicked. I. HE HAS NO PLEASURE IN IT . 1 . It might appear that he had. 2 . But on the other hand, it is certain that the fate of the sinner is no pleasure to God. II. STILL GOD PERMITS IT . 1 . God has given freedom to his children. It can scarcely be said that God kills a wicked man. The sinner is his own executioner; his sin is its own sword of vengeance. Sin itself slays. The sinner is practically a suicide. God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:23

Divine benevolence. No such conception of Deity can be found elsewhere as in the Holy Scriptures. Where can the sentiment of this verse be matched in other sacred literatures? Thousands of years have elapsed since these words were penned; and the world has not produced or heard language in itself more morally elevating and beautiful, more honouring to the Supreme Ruler, more consolatory and inspiring to the sinful sons of men. I. MEN HAVE CHERISHED SUSPICION OF THE DIVINE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:24

In the previous argument ( Ezekiel 18:21 ) the truth that the individual character may change had been stated as a ground of hope. Here it appears as a ground, for fear and watchfulness. The "grey-haired saint may fail at last," the apostle may become a castaway ( 1 Corinthians 9:27 ), and the righteousness of a life may be cancelled by the sins of a year or of a day. Whether there was an opening for repentance, even after that fall, the prophet does not say, but the law that a man is in... read more

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