The Fairness of God’s Judgment
September 15, 2021
Commentary
This passage emphasizes what is gained in life through turning to righteousness from wickedness. Ezekiel’s primary reference is to life after this present life. Now they seem to feel heavy guilt for rebelling against God for so many years. Therefore, God assured them of forgiveness if they repented (vv. 10-12). He wants everyone to turn to Him. He looks at what we are and not what we have been.
Good works will not save a person, who may decide to turn to a life of sin, Some people think they have done enough good deeds to more than cover the sins they don’t want to give up. But it’s useless to try to be good in some areas and yet be deliberately bad in others (v. 13). God requires wholehearted love and obedience. While good works will not save us, our salvation should lead to righteous actions (Eph. 2:10; James 2:14-17). This includes restitution for past sins. God expects us to make restitution whenever necessary, for the wrongs we have committed (v. 15). Ezekiel’s message is to the whole house of Israel, but its application was to be made on an individual basis. (vv. 12-16). The righteousness of the one turning to wickedness very likely has reference to the superficial righteousness of an unregenerate person.
If we turn from righteousness and do evil, we will die in our evil ways. We must not trust in our own righteousness. We all sin and we need Christ. The question is, do you trust in righteousness or in Christ? The warnings found here are warnings of hope. They show the way to life. They reveal the mercy of God. “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (v. 11).
Application
I am so thankful for the truth of God’s Word, that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, I have been justified by faith.
Ezekiel 33:10– 20 (NET)
10 “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you have said: “Our rebellious acts and our sins have caught up with us, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! Why should you die, O house of Israel?’
12 “And you, son of man, say to your people, ‘The righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him if he rebels. As for the wicked, his wickedness will not make him stumble if he turns from it. The righteous will not be able to live by his righteousness if he sins.’ 13 Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, but he becomes confident in his righteousness and commits iniquity. None of his righteous deeds will be remembered; because of the iniquity he has committed he will die. 14 Suppose I say to the wicked, ‘You must certainly die,’ but he turns from his sin and does what is just and right. 15 He returns what was taken in pledge, pays back what he has stolen, and follows the statutes that give life, committing no iniquity. He will certainly live—he will not die. 16 None of the sins he has committed will be counted against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.
17 “Yet your people say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their behavior that is not right. 18 When a righteous man turns from his godliness and commits iniquity, he will die for it. 19 When the wicked turns from his sin and does what is just and right, he will live because of it. 20 Yet you say, ‘The behavior of the Lord is not right.’ House of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his behavior.”
Illustration: Righteousness is to be Followed by Right Living
Righteousness is right standing, specifically before God. Among the Greeks, righteousness was an ethical virtue. Among the Hebrews it was a legal concept; the righteous man was the one who got the verdict of acceptability when tried at the bar of God’s justice. Christ’s death took away our sins and made it possible for sinners to have “the righteousness of God,” i.e., right standing before God (Rom. 1:16-17). That gift of righteousness is to be followed by upright living (Rom. 6:13-14). (The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, Shaw Publ., Wheaton , IL; 1984), p. 356.