17 "Yet your fellow citizens say , 'The way of the Lord is not right ,' when it is their own way that is not right . 18 "When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity , then he shall die in it. 19 "But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness , he will live by them. 20 "Yet you say , ' The way of the Lord is not right .' O house of Israel , I will judge each of you according to his ways ."
21 Now in the twelfth e year of our exile , on the fifth of the tenth month , the refugees from Jerusalem came to me, saying , " The city has been taken ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 33:17-21
Commentary on Ezekiel 33:10-20
(Read Ezekiel 33:10-20)
Those who despaired of finding mercy with God, are answered with a solemn declaration of God's readiness to show mercy. The ruin of the city and state was determined, but that did not relate to the final state of persons. God says to the righteous, that he shall surely live. But many who have made profession, have been ruined by proud confidence in themselves. Man trusts to his own righteousness, and presuming on his own sufficiency, he is brought to commit iniquity. If those who have lived a wicked life repent and forsake their wicked ways, they shall be saved. Many such amazing and blessed changes have been wrought by the power of Divine grace. When there is a settled separation between a man and sin, there shall no longer be a separation between him and God.
Commentary on Ezekiel 33:21-29
(Read Ezekiel 33:21-29)
Those are unteachable indeed, who do not learn their dependence upon God, when all creature-comforts fail. Many claim an interest in the peculiar blessings to true believers, while their conduct proves them enemies of God. They call this groundless presumption strong faith, when God's testimony declares them entitled to his threatenings, and nothing else.