\\INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 18\\
This chapter contains an answer to an objection of the Jews to the dealings of God with them in a providential way. The objection is expressed in a proverb of common use among them, and complained of as being without cause, \\#Eze 18:1,2\\; however, for the future, no occasion should be given them to use it; for, though God could justify his proceedings upon the foot of his sovereignty, all souls being his; yet he was determined none but the sinner himself should suffer, \\#Eze 18:3,4\\; and puts various cases for the illustration and vindication of his proceedings; as that a just man, who is described by his proper characters, as abstaining from several sins specified, and doing what is right and good, should surely live, \\#Eze 18:5-9\\; but that the son of such a just man, being the reverse of his father's character, should surely die, \\#Eze 18:10-13\\; and again, the son of such a wicked man, observing the heinousness of his father's sins, and abstaining from them, though his father should die in his iniquities, he should not die for them, but live, \\#Eze 18:14-18\\; by which it appears that the dealings of God with the Jews were not according to the proverb used by them, but quite agreeable to his resolution; that the sinner, be he a father or a son, shall die for his own sins; and that the righteous man's righteousness shall be upon him, and the wicked man's sin upon him, and accordingly both shall be dealt with, \\#Eze 18:19,20\\; which is further illustrated by a wicked man's turning from his sinful course, and doing righteousness, and living in that righteousness he has done; which is more agreeable to God that he should live, and not die in sin, \\#Eze 18:21-23\\; and by a righteous man turning from his righteousness, and living a vicious life, and dying in it, \\#Eze 18:24\\; from both which instances this conclusion follows, that God is to be justified; and that his ways are equal, and the Jews' ways were unequal, and their complaint unjust, \\#Eze 18:25\\; and the same instances are repeated in a different order, and the same conclusion formed, \\#Eze 18:26-29\\; upon which the Lord determines to judge them according to their own ways, their personal actions, good or bad; and exhorts them to repentance and reformation; and closes with a pathetic expostulation, with them, \\#Eze 18:30-32\\.
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