The Soul Who Sins Will Die
The people had been quoting an aphorism, The...
The people had been quoting an aphorism, The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste, meaning that innocent children sometimes suffer because of their parents’ actions. In Ezekiel’s context, people were using this proverb to imply that the sins that had brought about the Exile had been committed by their forefathers, while they were paying the price (cp. Lam 5:7).
1Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?
The Lord’s response to the proverb of 18:1–2...
The Lord’s response to the proverb of 18:1–2 was to categorically deny that it fit the situation. To the contrary, the Lord consistently punishes only those who are guilty (Deut 24:16). God is unswervingly just.
3As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. 4Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
God’s justice is worked out in a case...
God’s justice is worked out in a case study by following three hypothetical generations. In the first generation, a righteous man was faithful in worshiping the Lord, sexually pure, and fair in dealing with others. A person who lives like that has no need to fear God’s judgment.
5Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
6He does not eat at the mountainor look to the idols of the house of Israel.He does not defile his neighbor’s wifeor approach a woman during her period.7He does not oppress another,but restores the pledge to the debtor.He does not commit robbery,but gives his bread to the hungryand covers the naked with clothing.8He does not engage in usuryor take excess interest,but he withholds his hand from iniquityand executes true justice between men.9He follows My statutesand faithfully keeps My ordinances.That man is righteous;surely he will live,declares the Lord GOD.
If the son of a righteous man does...
If the son of a righteous man does not walk in the ways of God or of his father, and his life is the opposite of everything the father stood for, he will be responsible for his own guilt and suffer God’s judgment.
10Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things, 11though the father has done none of them:
Indeed, the son eats at the mountainand defiles his neighbor’s wife.12He oppresses the poor and needy;he commits robberyand does not restore a pledge.He lifts his eyes to idols;he commits abominations.13He engages in usuryand takes excess interest.Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.
The righteous son of an evil man will...
The righteous son of an evil man will surely live. God will judge each person individually.
14Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:
15He does not eat at the mountainor look to the idols of the house of Israel.He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.16He does not oppress another,or retain a pledge, or commit robbery.He gives his bread to the hungryand covers the naked with clothing.17He withholds his hand from harming the poor†and takes no interest or usury.He keeps My ordinancesand follows My statutes.Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live.
18As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.
19Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live.
20The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.
Ezekiel introduces two more case studies. Wicked people...
Ezekiel introduces two more case studies. Wicked people who turn away from their sins can experience God’s forgiveness, and righteous people who begin sinning will be judged.
21But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. 22None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.
God does not like to see wicked people...
God does not like to see wicked people die, so he appointed Ezekiel as a watchman, whose role was to turn the wicked toward godly life while warning the righteous against falling away (3:16–19; 33:1–9).
23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
24But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
Israel’s problem was not that the Lord wasn’t...
Israel’s problem was not that the Lord wasn’t doing what’s right but that they were persistently doing what was wrong. They thoroughly deserved God’s judgment.
25Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
26If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.
27But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life. 28Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.
29Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
This chapter concludes with a passionate appeal to...
This chapter concludes with a passionate appeal to the people of Israel to turn back and live. It was not too late for them to repent, turn from their sins, and be forgiven. God promised a new heart and a new spirit (11:19; 36:26) to all who would turn from their rebellion and humbly come to him.
30Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. 31Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
32For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!