Ezekiel 18 Footnotes

18:1-2 Ezekiel’s sixth reason for the fall of Judah and Jerusalem was the people’s failure to accept responsibility for their sin (see note on 12:1-7). During the nineteenth century, some commentators claimed that the idea of individual responsibility developed only during the exile. But the concept was present in the earliest writings in the OT. Here, Ezekiel clearly made two points about individual responsibility. First, individuals are not guilty for sins committed by others—past or present—especially by family members (vv. 1-20). Rather, they are responsible for whatever they do. Second, although individuals are responsible for their sins, they are not bound by former sins—their own or others—but can alter their situation by repentance and faith (vv. 21-32).

18:21-24 No generation is judged for the sins of a previous one. God always honors genuine repentance, as described in v. 21. Repentance is turning (shuv) from sin and turning to God in faith and obedience. The chiastic (symmetrical, in reverse) structure of vv. 21-24 begins and ends with exhortations to repentance. Between them is the Lord’s rhetorical question, “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” The implied answer is, “No.” God does not create some individuals for the specific purpose of meting out his judgment, as some may claim.

18:30-32 God’s desire, even in the face of repeated rebellion, is always to deliver—but he will bring judgment if necessary. This is consistent with his character inasmuch as it reveals his wrath against sin and those who choose it (Ex 22:22-24; Nm 11:33; Rm 1:18). When a person repents (shuv) and changes direction, the wrath of God is averted because the person turned from sin to forgiveness and faith (Zch 1:3-6).