THE LORD IS JUST

Passage: Ezekiel 18:19-32

Key verse: 32

NIV

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)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

19 “Yet you say, (A)‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done (B)what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, (C)he shall surely live. 20 (D)The soul who sins shall die. (E)The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. (F)The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, (G)and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 (H)“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does (I)what is just and right, (J)he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 (K)None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. 23 (L)Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? 24 (M)But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? (N)None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for (O)the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

25 (P)“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 (Q)When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, (R)when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

30 “Therefore (S)I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. (T)Repent and turn from all your transgressions, (U)lest iniquity be your ruin.[a] 31 (V)Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and (W)make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! (X)Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 (Y)For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; (Z)so turn, and live.”

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Footnotes
  1. Ezekiel 18:30 Or lest iniquity be your stumbling block

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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