Ezekiel 18:21 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 18:21-29

We have here another rule of judgment which God will go by in dealing with us, by which is further demonstrated the equity of his government. The former showed that God will reward or punish according to the change made in the family or succession, for the better or for the worse; here he shows that he will reward or punish according to the change made in the person himself, whether for the better or the worse. While we are in this world we are in a state of probation; the time of trial lasts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:21

But if the wicked ,.... So far is the Lord from punishing the sins of one man upon another, that he will not punish a man for his own sins: if he will turn from all his sins that he hath committed : if he truly repents of them, and thoroughly forsakes them; for it must not be one sin only, but all; every sin is to be loathed and mourned over, and sorrow expressed for it, and to be forsaken; not one sin is to cherished and retained, but all to be relinquished: or the repentance and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:21

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins - And afterwards walk according to the character of the righteous already specified shall he find mercy, and be for ever saved? Yes. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:21

Verse 21 In this sentence God proposes the hope of pardon, and invites and exhorts to penitence all the transgressors of his law. But this doctrine is specially worthy of notice, that God extends his arms, and is prepared to meet and receive all who betake themselves to good fruits: for despair hurls us into madness, and then hardens our hearts by abandoned obstinacy. Hence it is necessary that God should extend his hand towards us, and animate us to penitence. This is the meaning of this... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 18:21-23

Ezekiel 18:21-23. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins That is, repent and bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. He shall surely live He shall escape punishment: he shall be pardoned, and it shall be well with him in time and in eternity; as if he had said, So far is God from punishing the sins of guilty parents on their innocent children, as is objected above, that it is certain he does not punish even the guilty for their own sins, when they repent of and forsake them. Our... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-32

Each person is responsible (18:1-32)Many of the exiles complained that it was unjust that they should suffer because of the sins of the previous generation. True, the present captivity had resulted from the continuing decay of the nation over several generations, but the exiles could not deny that they too had sinned. There could be no excuses. They are individually responsible for their wrongdoings and they are punished accordingly (18:1-4).Examples of sins are then given. These include... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 18:21-29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:5-24

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:19-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:21-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:21-29

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 18:21-23

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:1-32

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