Ezekiel 18 opens with a well-known verse about sin and punishment:
The word of the LORD came to me again, saying, “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge’? “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.
“Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18.1 – 4, ESV)
He then goes into detail on several fronts. First, what is righteousness?
If a man is righteous and does what is just and right—
- if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
- does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity,
- does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge,
- commits no robbery,
- gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,
- does not lend at interest or take any profit,
- withholds his hand from injustice,
- executes true justice between man and man,
walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 18.5 – 9, ESV)
That is, righteousness is not defined by personal piety but by right actions toward others.
Another theme reminds me of a sign in the office of Fisher DeBerry, former football coach at the Air Force Academy:
You’re only as good as your last play.
Or, as Ezekial reports:
“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. 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?
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? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die. (Ezekiel 18.21 – 24, ESV)
The message of Ezekiel 18 is simple:
Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.” (Ezekiel 18.31, 32, ESV)
“Turn and live.” It’s a message for all and for all time. Jesus said it:
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13.3 and 5, ESV)