And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this.
Ezekiel speaks to exiles under God's judgment as a nation. They complain that His ways are not fair. Verse 19 is His answer in its simplest form: a man's past need not decide his future.
The setting: judgment, not a general season of grace
This word comes at a moment when God's government over the nation was actually falling. One commentator reads the whole passage in that light, and draws out what each side of it forbids.
William KellyIt was a day of judgment, not of grace, though some strangely confuse the two. Despair would achieve nothing; repentance would. Past righteousness should not shield present sin. Past sin should not block present turning away from it.
The individual inside a condemned nation
The reply separates what God was doing with the nation from what stayed open to each person.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThe answer Jehovah sends them makes known the principles on which He will deal with them one by one, as a just God: "O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways." Judgment rested upon them as a nation. Yet the individual could still turn to the Lord in repentance… The wicked man who confessed and gave up his sin would find mercy and forgiveness. Those who would not repent would surely die and not live.
Where the emphasis falls
The chapter sets a warning to the righteous beside a promise to the wicked. One of the two carries the weight.
Numerical Bible NotesSuppose a man had been righteous, trusted in that past righteousness of his, and then gave himself up to wickedness. God would remember none of his righteous deeds. He would surely die in the iniquity he had committed. But the emphasis falls on the mercy that awaits even the worst and vilest person who turns to God… Their death was of their own will and not His.
"Does what is just and right" — the terms are exact
The promise is not that turning is enough by itself; a standard is named, and that standard is never relaxed to make the offer easier.
Numerical Bible NotesThe mercy of God may blot out the past and allow a new beginning. But it never alters the terms of final acceptance, if those terms are to be legal terms… When the wicked man turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live. But it must be what is just and right — nothing less. And that is the very thing which is so hopeless.
Another writer treats the same offer as a test aimed at the will of people who blamed their fathers for their fate.
W. TrotterIt was a fair offer to blot out all the past and begin again; and this offer was made, remember, to those who were complaining that their destinies were not in their own hands. Could a fairer offer have been made?
God means it
Commentators apply the passage in different directions — some keep it strictly to God's government of Israel under judgment, others hear in it His attitude to everyone. What none of them allows is that the offer might be a pretence.
Numerical Bible NotesThis declares a way of salvation, too — not simply a righteousness that needs none. It speaks of the wicked man, the man who can already be called that, and who as such needs salvation. It announces forgiveness of sins for him… So God pledges His mercy to a returning soul. He must pledge it in all sincerity and truth, of course, or it could not be from Him.
The ground on which God can say it
The verse promises life, but it does not say how God could pass over the sins of those who turned to Him. One writer traces the promise to the cross.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinGod gave this gracious promise looking forward to the work of the cross — the redemption by the blood of Christ. That work declares God's righteousness in passing over the sins of Old Testament believers who turned to Him (Romans 3:25).
Another writer brings that same ground into the present, for the worst of sinners.
Eugene P. Vedder Jr.God is still reaching out to even the greatest of sinners. None are too wicked for Him to forgive. "The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7)! On this righteous basis God can forgive.
Summary
- Turn — everything hangs on the wicked man turning. Despair achieves nothing; repentance does.
- Turning counts today — a good record does not shield present sin. A bad record does not block present turning.
- Turning is personal — the whole nation was under judgment. Each person could still turn and find mercy.
- Turning has terms — God promises life to the one who does what is just and right, and He never lowers that standard.
- Turning meets a sincere God — He pledges mercy to the returning soul in all sincerity and truth. The blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, is the righteous basis.