Ezekiel 18
PATappearance is represented by the prophet Isaiah, under the same expressions, (liii. 2.) The calamities which ushered in and attended the captivity of the Jews, were expressly threatened as punishments of the idolatries and other sins of their ancestors. (See Jer. xv. 4.) This made the Jews of the present age complain of God’s dealing hardly with them, in punishing them for the sins of their forefathers. This chapter contains an answer to the objection, importing that even under their captivity they should find their condition better or worse, according as they behaved themselves; and withal laying before them God’s eternal rules of justice, with regard to the rewards and punishments of the next life, when he will judge every man according to his works, and every man shall bear his own burden. r i
Ezekiel 18:2
ff HAT mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel?. With respect to the desolations made in it by sword, famine, and pestilence. (See vi, 2, 3, &c.vii.2.) The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.]?\ e. The present generation is punished for the offences committed by their forefathers, particularly for the sins committed in the time of Manasseh, king of Judah. (See 2 Kings xxiii.26. Jer. xv. 4. xxxi. 29. Lam. v. 7.) This proverb had likewise a profane sense implied in it, and insinuated that the present age was not remarkably worse than those that had gone before it, and so did not deserve to be made an extraordinary example of God’s vengeance.
Ezekiel 18:3
As I live, saith the Lord, ye shall not have occasion to use this proverb any more in Israel. I will make such a yoL. iv. - visible discrimination between the righteous and the wicked, between those that tread in the steps of their forefathers, and those who take warning by their examples, that you shall not have any farther occasion to use this proverb* among you. God expressly threatens to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, both in the Old and New Testament; (see Exod. xx. 5. Matt, xxiii. 35.) but this is to be understood only with respect to the temporal punishments of this world (and these he doth not always ipflict in an exact proportion to the demerits of those that suffer), not with respect to the eternal punishments of the next. Sec Bishop Sanderson’s third Sermon upon 1 Kings xxi. 29. ** The Scripture takes notice of a certain measure of iniquity, which is filling up from one generation to another, till at last it makes a nation or family ripe for destruction. And although those persons on whom this vengeance falls, suffer no more than their own personal sins deserved; yet, because the sins of former generations, which they equal or outdo, make it time for God utterly to destroy them, the punishments due to the sins of many ages and generations are said to fall upon them." (See Matt, xxiii. 35, 36. Dr. Sherlock, of Providence, chap. S.)
Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, all souls are mine. As they are all equally my creatures, so my dealings with them shall be. without prejudice or partiality. The soul that sinneth, it shall die.] Death is the wages of sin, and all men being sinners, the sentence of temporal death passes equally upon them all. But as life signifies in general all that happiness which attends God’s favour, so death denotes all those punishments which are the effects of (he Divine displeasure: (sec 2 Sam. xii. 13.) under which are comprehended the miseries of the next world; and these shall be allotted to men according to their deserts, without any regard to the faults of their ancestors, which shall not then be laid to their charge, or taken into account to aggravate their guilt. The words dying, r.nd death, are often used in the New Testament for the punishments of the next world: (see particularly Rom. viii. 13.) and they are expressed by the second death, Rev. xx, 14. an expression us’ed among the Jews, and found in the Targum upon Deut. xxxiii. 6. As the prophets instruct men in the practice of inward and evangelical righteousness, and in order to it speak slightingly of the mere external duties of religion; (sec Isa. i. 11, &c. Jer. vii. 22, 23.) so they raise men’s minds to look beyond the temporal promises and threatenings of the law, to the eternal rewards and punishments of another life. (See Isa. Ixvi. 24. Dan. xii. 2.) In both which respects they prepared men’s minds for the reception of the gospel when it should be revealed.
Ezekiel 18:6
And hath not eaten upon the mountains. Idolatrous worship was commonly performed upon mountains or high places: (see vi. 13. xvi. 16. 44. xx. 28.) and eating part of the sacrifice, was properly maintaining communion with the idol to whom it was offered. (See Exod. xxxiv. 15. 1 Cor. x. 20, 21.) Neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel.] Lifting up the eyes, is a posture of religious worship or adoration. (See Deut. iv, 19. Psal. exxi. 1. exxiii. 1.) •
Ezekiel 18:7
Hath restored to the debtor his pledge. God commanded the Jews not to detain any pledge they took
Ezekiel 18:23
In the mount of the height of Israel will I plant ill. The temple stood upon Mount Moriah, (2 Chron. iii. 1.) thence styled God’s holy mountain; which expression is often used in the prophets to denote the Christian church;’ which is described as a city set on a hilly and conspicuous to all the world. (See xx. 40. and the note upon Isa. ii. 2.) And it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit.] The living members of the church are compared to fruitful trees, and flourishing branches. (SeePsal. i. 3. xcii. 2. John xv. 5. 8.) And under itshall dwell all fowl of every wing.’] i. e. Of every kind. A powerful, especially if it be an easy government, is a shelter and security to all its subjects. (Compare xxxi. 6. Dan. iv. 12.) «Such shall be the kingdom of Christ to all that submit themselves to his laws.
Ezekiel 18:24
And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, &c. Christ’s kingdom shall by degrees exalt itself above all the kingdoms of the world; and shall at length put an end to them, and itself continue unto’ all eternity. (See Dan. iv. 35. 44. vii. 27. Luke i. 33. 1 Cor; xv. 24.), I the Lord have spoken it, and have done it.] The prophets often speak of future events as if they were already accomplished, to assure us that they shall certainly come to pass. (See the note upon Isa. xxi.9.)