Ezekiel 18:25-28

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 18:25

Yet ye say ,.... Notwithstanding these plain instances, which show the equity of God in his proceedings, and vindicate his justice in the dispensations of his providence; yet such was the blindness and stupidity of these people, or rather their stubbornness, obstinacy, and impudence, that they still insisted upon it that the way of the Lord is not equal ; just and right; is not even, according to the rules of justice and equity; or is not ordered aright, is not steady, and firm, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:26

When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness ,.... This is repeated for the further confirmation of it, and to raise their attention to it; to make it more plain and manifest to them, and to fix it upon their minds: and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them : or, "he shall die for them" F13 עליהם "propter illa", Pagninus, Piscator, Grotius, Cocceius; so some in Vatsbins. ; both for his turning away from his righteousness, and for his committing iniquity: for his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:27

Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed ,.... Repents of his sins, and forsakes the vicious course of life he has lived: and doeth that which is lawful and right ; or "judgment" and "righteousness" F14 משפט וצדקה "judicium et justitiam", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin, Cocceius. ; that which is agreeable to the law and will of God, and is just and right between man and man: he shall save his soul alive ; from famine,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 18:28

Because he considereth ,.... Being come to himself, and in his right mind, he considers the evil of his ways; what they lead to; what they deserve at the hand of God; and what he may expect, should he continue in them; see Ezekiel 18:14 ; and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed ; not only repents of them, but reforms from them; and that not from one, or a few of them, but from them "all"; which shows the truth, reality, and sincerity of his repentance; there... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:25

Verse 25 The Prophet here shows that those who used the vulgar taunt — that the children’s teeth were set on edge, because their fathers had eaten sour grapes — had broken away from all restraint; and nothing further remained to hinder them from uttering their blasphemies arrogantly against God: but their insolence and madness now increases when they say that God’s ways are not equal. And this is discerned in almost all hypocrites: at first they indirectly find fault with God, and yet pretend... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 18:26

Verse 26 The Prophet repeats what we formerly saw, namely, that the state of the case turned upon this, Whether the people had any cause of complaint when God absolves those who repent, and condemns the just who desert the course of a pious and holy life? Now, we must always return to this cardinal point, that God rewards every one according to his works, since he offers mercy to all the lost, and demands nothing else but a sincere and hearty return to him. Since, then, God treats the impious... 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 18:25

Are not my ways equal? The. primary meaning of the Hebrew adjective is that of something ordered, symmetrically arranged. Men would find in the ways of God precisely that in which their own ways were wanting, and which they denied to him—the workings of a considerate equity, adjusting all things according to their true weight and measure. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 18:25

God accused of man's injustice. The Jews were asserting that the ways of God were not equal, when the fact was that their ways, not his, were unequal. I. GOD IS ACCUSED OF INJUSTICE . "Ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal." It is felt that the rule of the supreme God should be very different from that of earthly judges, some of whom take bribes, and all of whom are fallible. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" exclaims Abraham, when venturing to expostulate... read more

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