Ezekiel, Sarah Barry
THE LORD IS JUST
Passage: Ezekiel 18:19~32  
Key verse: 32
19 “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.(A) 20 The one who sins is the one who will die.(B) The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.(C)
21 “But if(D) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees(E) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.(F) 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.(G) 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased(H) when they turn from their ways and live?(I)
24 “But if a righteous person turns(J) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness(K) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.(L)
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’(M) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?(N) Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.(O) 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.(P) 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!(Q) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.(R) 31 Rid(S) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart(T) and a new spirit. Why(U) will you die, people of Israel?(V) 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent(W) and live!(X)
Cross references
- Ezekiel 18:19 : Ex 20:5; Dt 5:9; Jer 15:4; Zec 1:3-6
- Ezekiel 18:20 : S Nu 15:31
- Ezekiel 18:20 : Dt 24:16; S 1Ki 8:32; 2Ki 14:6; Isa 3:11; S Eze 7:27; S 14:14; S Mt 16:27; Jn 9:2
- Ezekiel 18:21 : Jer 18:8
- Ezekiel 18:21 : S Ge 26:5
- Ezekiel 18:21 : S Eze 13:22; 36:27
- Ezekiel 18:22 : Ps 18:20-24; S Isa 43:25; Da 4:27; Mic 7:19
- Ezekiel 18:23 : Ps 147:11
- Ezekiel 18:23 : S Job 37:23; S La 3:33; S Eze 16:6; Mic 7:18; S 1Ti 2:4
- Ezekiel 18:24 : S Jer 34:16
- Ezekiel 18:24 : S Eze 15:8
- Ezekiel 18:24 : S 1Sa 15:11; 2Ch 24:17-20; S Job 35:8; Pr 21:16; S Eze 3:20; 20:27; 2Pe 2:20-22
- Ezekiel 18:25 : Jer 2:29
- Ezekiel 18:25 : S Ge 18:25; Jer 12:1; Eze 33:17; Zep 3:5; Mal 2:17; 3:13-15
- Ezekiel 18:27 : S Isa 1:18; S Eze 13:22
- Ezekiel 18:28 : S Isa 55:7
- Ezekiel 18:30 : S Isa 1:27; S Jer 35:15; Mt 3:2
- Ezekiel 18:30 : Eze 7:3; 24:14; 33:20; Hos 12:6; 1Pe 1:17
- Ezekiel 18:31 : S Jdg 6:8
- Ezekiel 18:31 : Ps 51:10
- Ezekiel 18:31 : Jer 27:13
- Ezekiel 18:31 : S Isa 1:16-17; S Eze 11:19; 36:26
- Ezekiel 18:32 : S Job 22:23; Isa 55:7; Mal 3:7
- Ezekiel 18:32 : S 2Ch 7:14; S Job 37:23; S Eze 16:6; 33:11
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. The righteous will live (19-24)
God wants everyone to have life. It is not a matter of parentage, but of righteousness. God does not take any pleasure in the death of the wicked. He wants all people to turn away from sin and turn toward God, following his word. Repentance pleases God.
2. Then sin will not be your downfall (25-32)
Many people live based on what is just and right in their own eyes. The Lord is just. Sin steals life from men, producing only death. The only way is to turn toward God. In his justice he accepts all who turn away from sin and to him in their helplessness. God is pleased to forgive and takes pleasure in restoring life to the repentant sinner. The way of the Lord is just.
Prayer: Lord, help me to turn away from sin and toward you each day, so that I may live a life that pleases you.
One Word: Repent and live