CHAPTER XVIII _The Jews, in Ezekiel's time, complained of God's dealing hardly_ _with them in punishing them for the sins of their forefathers_, 1, 2; _their temporal calamities having been long threatened as the_ _consequence of the national guilt_, (Jeremiah 15:4, c.) _and, from the general... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:2. _THE FATHERS HAVE EATEN SOUR GRAPES, AND THE CHILDREN'S_ _TEETH ARE SET ON EDGE?_] We have seen this proverb already, Jeremiah 31:29, c., and have considered its general meaning. But the subject is here proposed in greater detail, with a variety of circumstances, to adapt it to a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:3. _AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD, YE SHALL NOT HAVE_ OCCASION _ANY MORE TO USE THIS PROVERB IN ISRAEL._] I will now, by this present declaration, settle this question for ever. And hence God has _sworn_ to what follows. After this, who will dare to doubt the judgment pronounced?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:4. _ALL SOULS ARE MINE_] Equally so; I am the Father of the spirits of all flesh, and shall deal _impartially_ with the whole. _THE SOUL THAT SINNETH, IT SHALL DIE._] None shall _die_ for _another's crimes_, none shall be saved by _another's_ _righteousness_. Here is the _general_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:5. _IF A MAN BE JUST, AND DO THAT WHICH IS LAWFUL AND_ _RIGHT_] If he be _just_ or _holy_ within, and do what is according to _law_ and _equity_. What is meant by this, is immediately specified.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 6:1 1. _HATH NOT EATEN UPON THE MOUNTAINS_] Idolatrous worship was generally performed on _mountains_ and _hills_; and those who offered sacrifices _feasted_ on the sacrifice, and thus held _communion_ with the idol. 2. _NEITHER HATH LIFTED UP HIS EYES TO THE IDOLS_] Has paid them no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 7:5. _HATH NOT OPPRESSED ANY_] Has not used his power or influence to oppress, pain, or injure another. 6. _HATH RESTORED TO THE DEBTOR HIS PLEDGE_] Has carefully surrendered the pawn or pledge when its owner came to _redeem_ it. As the _pledge_ is generally of _more worth_ than that... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 8:10 10. _HATH NOT GIVEN FORTH UPON USURY_] בנשך לא יתן _beneshech lo yitten_. נשך nasach signifies to _bite; usury_ is properly so termed, because it _bites_ into and _devours_ the _principal_. Usury signifies, with us, exacting _unlawful interest_ for money; and taking the _advantag... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:9. _HATH WALKED IN MY STATUTES_] Not only acknowledging them to be right, but acting according to them. Especially in every thing that relates to my worship, changing nothing, neglecting nothing. _AND HATH KEPT MY JUDGMENTS, TO DEAL TRULY_] Has attended to my Divine direction, both... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:10. _IF HE BEGET A SON_] Who is the reverse of the above righteous character, according to the _thirteen articles_ already specified and explained.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:13. _SHALL HE THEN LIVE?_] Because his father was a righteous man, shall the father's holiness be imputed to him? No! _HE SHALL SURELY DIE; HIS BLOOD SHALL BE UPON HIM._] He shall suffer for his own crimes.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:14. _NOW, LO_, IF _HE BEGET A SON THAT SEETH ALL HIS FATHER'S_ _SINS-AND CONSIDERETH_] Lays to heart the evil of his father's life, and the dreadful consequences of a life of rebellion against God. _AND DOETH NOT SUCH LIKE_] Is quite a different man in moral _feeling_ and _characte... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:17. _HE SHALL NOT DIE FOR THE INIQUITY OF HIS FATHER_] He shall no more be affected by his father's _crimes_, than his father was _benefited_ by his _grandfather's righteousness_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:20. _THE SOUL THAT SINNETH, IT SHALL DIE._] Hitherto we have had to do with the _simple cases_ of the _righteous_ and the _wicked_; of him who _lived and died a holy man_, and of him who _lived and_ _died a wicked man_. But there are _two cases_ behind: 1. That of the _wicked man_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:22. _ALL HIS TRANSGRESSIONS_] Shall be so completely forgiven by God's mercy, that they _shall not be even mentioned to_ _him_; and if he live and die in this recovered state, he shall live with God to all eternity. And why? Hear the reason:-... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:23. _HAVE I ANY PLEASURE AT ALL THAT THE WICKED SHOULD_ _DIE?_] No! That is foreign to him whose name is love, and whose nature is mercy. On the contrary he "wills that he should return from his evil ways and live." And if God can have _no pleasure_ in the _death of the wicked_, he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:24. _WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS TURNETH AWAY FROM HIS_ _RIGHTEOUSNESS_] Here is the _second_ case. Can a man who was once holy and pure, fall away so as to perish everlastingly? YES. For God says, "If he turn away from his righteousness;" not his _self-righteousness_, the gloss of theologi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:30. _REPENT, AND TURN_ YOURSELVES _FROM ALL YOUR_ _TRANSGRESSIONS_] There is still life; still a God that has _no_ _pleasure_ in the death of a sinner, one who is ever ready to give his Holy Spirit to all them that ask him; therefore "repent and turn, so iniquity shall not be your r... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:31. _CAST AWAY_] With a holy violence, dash away every transgression and incentive to it. _MAKE YOU A NEW HEART_] Call upon God for it, and he will give it: for as sure as you _earnestly call on God through Christ_ to save you, so surely you shall be saved; and the _effect_ will so... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 18:32. _FOR I HAVE NO PLEASURE_] God repeats what he had so solemnly declared before. Can ye doubt his sincerity? his ability? his willingness? the efficacy of the blood of his covenant? _WHEREFORE TURN_ YOURSELVES, _AND LIVE YE._] Reader, now give God thy heart. Though every man co... [ Continue Reading ]