15. give again that he had robbed— (Luke 19:8). statutes of life—in the obeying of which life is promised (Luke 19:8- :). If the law has failed to give life to man, it has not been the fault of the law, but of man's sinful inability to keep it (Romans 7:10; Romans 7:12; Galatians 3:21). It becomes life-giving through Christ's righteous obedience to it (Galatians 3:21- :). read more
A. A warning to the exiles 33:1-20Since this message is undated, it may have come to Ezekiel about the same time as the previous two in chapter 32, namely, in the last month of 585 B.C. If so, Ezekiel received it about two months after God gave him the six messages recorded in Ezekiel 33:21 to Ezekiel 39:29 (cf. Ezekiel 33:21). Perhaps the writer inserted the present message in the text here because its strong encouragement to repent was more typical of Ezekiel’s emphasis before news of... read more
2. An exhortation to turn from evil 33:10-20This part of Ezekiel’s warning to the exiles is similar to Ezekiel 18:21-32. read more
The right conduct of a usually righteous person would not exempt him from judgment if he sinned. Neither would the sinful conduct of a usually sinful person exempt him from forgiveness if he repented. The usually righteous person should not take God’s promise of life for righteous living as a guarantee that he was exempt from punishment if he sinned. As in chapter 18, the issue here is not earning eternal salvation or losing it by the way one lives. It is rather the consequences of individual... read more
God’s warnings that the wicked would die because of their sinfulness also needed to be understood properly. They would die only if they failed to repent. If the wicked turned from his sins and obeyed the Mosaic Law, he would not die (prematurely). God would not hold his former sins against him. He would receive his life as a reward for his righteous conduct. read more
The Prophet and the IndividualThis passage combines an expanded repetition of Ezekiel 3:17-21 with a condensed repetition of Ezekiel 18:5-29. The prophet is a watchman, responsible for warning his people of the consequences of sin. God deals with individual souls in strict justice, and desires that all should turn from their evil ways and live. These principles, already announced, became of special importance, and found their real application, after the fall of Jerusalem. As Ezekiel had... read more
§ 1. The Restoration (Ezekiel 33-39)After an introductory passage (Ezekiel 33:1-20), and two short prophecies against the wicked survivors of Jerusalem and the careless exiles (Ezekiel 33:21-33), this section describes the restoration in connexion with the Ruler, the Land and the People successively. As to the Ruler, God is pictured as the Shepherd of Israel (Ezekiel 34). As to the Land, a prophecy against Edom (Ezekiel 35) introduces a new address to the mountain land of Israel (Ezekiel 36).... read more
§ 1. The Restoration (Ezekiel 33-39)After an introductory passage (Eze 33:1-20), and two short prophecies against the wicked survivors of Jerusalem and the careless exiles (Eze 33:21-33), this section describes the restoration in connexion with the Ruler, the Land and the People successively. As to the Ruler, God is pictured as the Shepherd of Israel (Ezekiel 34:0). As to the Land, a prophecy against Edom (Ezekiel 35:0) introduces a new address to the mountain land of Israel (Ezekiel 36:0). As... read more
The New Israel (Ezekiel 33-48)So long as the Jewish kingdom remained in existence Ezekiel’s prophecies (those in Ezekiel 1-24) dealt almost exclusively with the nation’s sin, and with the certainty of its overthrow. But when these prophecies were fulfilled by the fall of Jerusalem his message assumed a new and hopeful character. God’s punishment of Israel’s sin was not the end of His dealings with His people. The destruction of the old sinful Israel would be followed by the establishment of a... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ezekiel 33:15
Ezekiel 33:15. If the wicked restore, &c.— Robbery and violence would be too gainful a trade, if a man might quit all scores by repentance, and detain all he has gotten; or if the father's repentance might serve the turn, and the benefit of the transgression be transmitted as an inheritance to the son. If the pledge remained, it must be restored; the retaining of it is committing a new iniquity, and forfeits any benefit of the promise. If he have it not, nor be able to procure it, his... read more