Say unto them, as I live, saith the Lord ,.... The following is the answer returned from the Lord by the prophet to their above complaint and reasoning; to which is premised the oath of God, showing the certainty, reality, and sincerity of what is said, which might be depended on as true: I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked , &c.; See Gill on Ezekiel 18:23 , Ezekiel 18:31 , Ezekiel 18:32 , read more
Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people ,.... See Gill on Ezekiel 33:2 . The purport of what the prophet is bid to say in this and some following verses is, that the righteousness of a man that trusts in it, he sinning and not repenting, shall not save him; and that the wickedness of a repenting sinner shall not damn him: the righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression ; this must be understood, not of a truly righteous... read more
When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live ,.... A happy life, here and hereafter; an eternal life, and not die the second death: this must be understood, should he appear a truly righteous person; one that does not trust to his own righteousness, but to the righteousness of Christ, and lives by faith on that; looking for the hope of righteousness through it, and behaving agreeably to his character: but if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity ; as he... read more
Again, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die ,.... That is, provided he continues in the same course of life, impenitent and unbelieving: but if he turn from his sin ; repent of it, and forsake it: and do that which is lawful and right ; or "judgment and justice"; do that which is agreeably to the law of God, and what is right between man and man; lives soberly, righteously, and godly, as well as denies ungodliness and worldly lusts; whereby it appears that his repentance... read more
If the wicked restore the pledge ,.... His neighbour's raiment, which he has taken as a pledge for money lent him; and which, according to the law, was to be restored before sunset, Exodus 22:26 which wicked men did not attend unto; but when such a man is brought to a sense of his wickedness, and repentance for it, as an evidence of it he would restore the pledge: and give again that he had robbed ; to him whom he had robbed; as a thief was obliged to do, four or five fold, according... read more
None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him ,.... Imputed to him; placed to his account; charged upon him, or ever be spoke of to him, either now, or at the day of judgment, by way of accusation and complaint, or to his condemnation: he hath done that which is lawful and right ; has repented of his sin; looked to Christ by faith for the pardon of it; and laid hold on his righteousness for his justification; and being influenced and assisted by the grace of God,... read more
Yet the children of thy people say ,.... "Not my people"; for surely the children of God could never say what follows; and one would think that even no man could say it, after so much had been said by the Lord concerning the righteous and the wicked, and his dealings with them, which must appear to be just and right, good and gracious; and yet such were the atheism, the perverseness and peevishness of these people, they went on to say as they had done before: the way of the Lord is not... read more
When the righteous turneth from his righteousness ,.... This and what is said in the following verse are clear instances of the equality, justness, and goodness of the ways of God; and are again repeated, if possible, to make it clear and plain to them that their charge and complaint were groundless; See Gill on Ezekiel 18:24 , Ezekiel 18:26 . read more
But if the wicked turn from his wickedness ,.... See Gill on Ezekiel 18:27 . read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 33:10-20
These verses are the substance of what we had before (Ezek. 18:20) and they are so full and express a declaration of the terms on which people stand with God (as the former were of the terms on which ministers stand) that it is no wonder that they are here repeated, as those were, though we had the substance of them before. Observe here, I. The cavils of the people against God's proceedings with them. God was now in his providence contending with them, but their uncircumcised hearts were not... read more