CHAPTER 18 EVERY MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS OWN SIN. Ezekiel now outlines the behaviour of the righteous and the wicked in terms of three generations in one family, a righteous man and a wicked son, followed by a righteous grandson. The point behind this is to stress individual responsibility. Each... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The word of Yahweh came to me again saying.' The prophet is still bound by his oath of dumbness but has again received a word from Yahweh to pass on.... [ Continue Reading ]
“What do you mean that you use this proverb about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'? As I live,” says Yahweh, “you will not have occasion to use this proverb in Israel any more.” The coming lesson on individual responsibility... [ Continue Reading ]
“Behold all lives are mine. As the life of the father, so also the life of the son is mine. The one who sins, he will die.” The use of the word ‘soul' for nephesh in modern translations is misleading. In Ezekiel's day the philosophical conception of ‘the soul' did not exist. The nephesh was rather... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS FATHER. “But if a man is just and does what is lawful and right, and has not eaten on the mountains, nor has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, nor has defiled his neighbour's wife, nor has come near to a woman in her separation, and has not wronged any, but has r... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED SON. The purpose of the comparison is to refute the idea that a man suffers or benefits as far as God is concerned because of his family connections. A man may naturally benefit, or otherwise, as a result of his family environment, behaviour and wealth, but in the end God's dealings with... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS GRANDSON. “Now, lo, if he beget a son who sees all his father's sins which he has done, and fears (an alternative reading is ‘considers'), and does not such things, who has not eaten on the mountains, nor has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his... [ Continue Reading ]
“As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did what is not good among the people, behold he will die in his iniquity.” The grandson's goodness will not protect his father. His father will be brought to account for his sins. He will take responsibility for... [ Continue Reading ]
“When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he will surely live. The person who sins, he will die. The son will not bear the iniquity of the father, nor will the father bear the iniquity of the son, the righteousness of the righteous will be on h... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD ANSWERS THE CHARGE OF UNFAIRNESS. It is worthy of note that the people felt that God was being unfair precisely for the opposite reason than many of us would, bringing out how important, attitude transforming and thought provoking his words were seen to be. They considered, without thinking of... [ Continue Reading ]
“But if the wicked turn from all his sins which he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do what is lawful and right, he will surely live, he will not die. None of his transgressions which he has committed will be remembered against him. In his righteousness that he has done he will live.” B... [ Continue Reading ]
“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh, “and not rather that he should return from his way and live?” These words should be seared on all our hearts. God has no desire for, or pleasure in, the death of the wicked. He does not want any to be lost in the judgment. But... [ Continue Reading ]
“But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations which the wicked man does. Shall he live? None of his righteous deeds which he has done will be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed and in his sin that he has si... [ Continue Reading ]
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal'.” The unusual use here of ‘the Lord' by itself (see also Ezekiel 18:29 and contrast the usual ‘Lord Yahweh') suggests that this had become a standard grievance of the people, so much so that it had taken a stereotyped form. They considered that God w... [ Continue Reading ]
“When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies in it, for the iniquity that he has done will he die. Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed, and does what is lawful and right, he will save himself alive. Because he... [ Continue Reading ]
“Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.' Oh house of Israel, are my ways not equal? Are your ways not unequal?” God challenges Israel to recognise that in fact it is they whose ways are unequal and unfair. They would condemn a man for what he could do nothing about, being... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD'S FINAL OFFER AND PLEA. “Therefore I will judge you, Oh house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh, “Return you, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, so will they not be a stumblingblock of iniquity to you.” It is unquestionable that this was a new emp... [ Continue Reading ]
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, by which you have transgressed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why will you die, Oh house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh, “For which reason turn yourselves and live.” These rema... [ Continue Reading ]