The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 340

Vers. 21-29.-Moral transformations and their consequences. "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he bath committed, aod keep all my statutes," etc. In this paragraph the vindication of the moral government of Goll is advanced another stage. Already it has been shown that the son does not die for his father's sins, or live for his father's righteousness. Only the soul that sinneth shall die ; only the soul that is righteous shall live. Now the prophet proceeds to show that" so far from the sins of his fathers excluding from salvation, not even his own do this, if they be penitently forsaken." Or, as Matthew Henry expresses it, "The former showed that God will reward or punish according to the change made in the family or succession, for the better or for the worse ; here he shows that he will reward or punish according to the change made in the person himself, whether for the better or the worse." I. A DESIRABLE MORAL TRANSFORMATION. 1. Its nature. Several stages of it which are here specified will make this clear. (1) Serious consideration. "He" (i.e. the wicked man) "considereth" (ver. 28). Reflection is an indispensable step towards repentance. Thinking must precede turning. Thus it was with the psalmist: " I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies," etc. (Isa. cxix. 59, 60). So also with the prodigal son: "when he came to himself," and thought upon his father's house, and bis own wretched condition, it was not long before be arose and penitently went to bis father (Luke xv. 17-20). Consideration leads to conversion. (2) Resolute forsaking of sin. "If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed" (ver. 21); "Because he considereth, and turneth a.way from all his trans- gressions that he hath committed" (ver. 28). '!'here is no true turning or repentance apart from the renunciation of sin; and where repentance is both true and thorough there is a renunciation of '' all his sins; " the sinner " turneth a.way from all his trans- gressions." He makes no reservation; he does not long or plead for the retention of any because they are small or comparatively uninjurious. He loathes sin, and endeavoilll! to eschew it altogether. (3) Hearty following after righteousness. "And keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right." Getting rid of the evil is not enough; we must needs get possession of the good. Ceasing to do evil must be followed by learning to do well, Not only a.re we not to be overcome of evil; we a.re to go on to overcome evil with good. " He that would love life . . . let him turn a.way from evil and do good." If the evil spirit be expelled from our heart, and the Holy Spirit be not welcomed therein, the evil spirit will return with other spirits worse than himself, and they will take possession of our heart and dwell there (Matt. xii. 43-45). The desirable moral transformation includes hearty abandonment of sin and hearty cultivation of goodness. 2. Its consequences. (1) Forgiveness of his sins. "All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him;" Revised Version, "None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered a.gaiust him." They shall be so completely pardoned that there shall be no reproach because of them, no recall of them, no recollection of them. How fully and absolutely God forgives l "I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more; " "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins;" "As far as the east is from the west, so far bath he removed our transgressions from us;" "Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back; " "He deligbteth in mercy. He will turn a."'ain 0 and have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." (2) Bestowment of spiritual life. "He shall surely live, he shall not die. . . . In his righteousness that lie bath done he shall live. , , . He shall save his soul alive." In the favour and fellow- ship of God is the soul's life. "In his favour is lifo." And that favour is granted to 342 TI-m BOOK OF 'l'B:E PROPHE'l' EZEKIEL. [cu. xvm. 1-32.