Ezekiel 18:6. And hath not eaten, &c.— Idolatrous worship was generally performed upon the mountains or high places; and eating part of the sacrifice was properly entertaining communion with the idol to whom it was offered. The high places whereof Ezekiel speaks here, were of the most infamous sort, where the grossest idolatries and the vilest prostitutions were committed. read more
Ezekiel 18:8. Upon usury.— See Deuteronomy 23:19-20 : unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; whence it follows, that taking increase is not malum per se; but agreeable to justice, if duly circumstanced. Every kind and degree of usury was forbidden to the Israelites among each other, to promote a spirit of mutual kindness. But this law was peculiar to them; like their not reaping the corners of their fields, and their not gleaning their vine-trees and olive-trees. Leviticus 19:9-10.... read more
5. Here begins the illustration of God's impartiality in a series of supposed cases. The first case is given in Ezekiel 18:5-9, the just man. The excellencies are selected in reference to the prevailing sins of the age, from which such a one stood aloof; hence arises the omission of some features of righteousness, which, under different circumstances, would have been desirable to be enumerated. Each age has its own besetting temptations, and the just man will be distinguished by his guarding... read more
6. not eaten upon . . . mountains—the high places, where altars were reared. A double sin: sacrificing elsewhere than at the temple, where only God sanctioned sacrifice (Deuteronomy 12:13; Deuteronomy 12:14); and this to idols instead of to Jehovah. "Eaten" refers to the feasts which were connected with the sacrifices (see Exodus 32:6; Deuteronomy 32:38; Judges 9:27; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Corinthians 8:10; 1 Corinthians 10:7). lifted . . . eyes to—namely, in adoration (Psalms 121:1). The... read more
7. restored . . . pledge—that which the poor debtor absolutely needed; as his raiment, which the creditor was bound to restore before sunset (Exodus 22:26; Exodus 22:27), and his millstone, which was needed for preparing his food (Deuteronomy 24:6; Deuteronomy 24:10-13). bread to . . . hungry . . . covered . . . naked— (Isaiah 58:7; Matthew 25:35; Matthew 25:36). After duties of justice come those of benevolence. It is not enough to refrain from doing a wrong to our neighbor, we must also do... read more
8. usury—literally, "biting." The law forbade the Jew to take interest from brethren but permitted him to do so from a foreigner (Exodus 22:25; Deuteronomy 23:19; Deuteronomy 23:20; Nehemiah 5:7; Psalms 15:5). The letter of the law was restricted to the Jewish polity, and is not binding now; and indeed the principle of taking interest was even then sanctioned, by its being allowed in the case of a foreigner. The spirit of the law still binds us, that we are not to take advantage of our... read more
9. truly—with integrity. surely live—literally, "live in life." Prosper in this life, but still more in the life to come (Proverbs 3:1; Proverbs 3:2; Amos 5:4). read more
If a person behaved righteously and obeyed the Mosaic Law, that person would live. This is the basic point. Evidence of righteousness before God was typically obedience to specific commands in the Law. The Lord cited five types of behavior that manifested departure from the will of God under the Mosaic Law.First, eating ceremonial meals at idol shrines and trusting in idols were forbidden but practiced by the Jews in Ezekiel’s day (cf. Deuteronomy 12:2-4). This was a violation of the first four... read more
The case of the righteous father 18:5-9 read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:5
"But if a man be just and do that which is lawful and right, and hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes unto the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor's wife, neither hath come near to a woman in her impurity, and hath not wronged any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath taken naught by robbery, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; he that hath not given forth upon interest, neither hath... read more