Ezekiel 14:20, commentary and pictures

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they could rescue neither son nor daughter nor any other person, but only their own souls by their own righteousness. Righteousness and the character formed by the Spirit cannot be passed from one person to another, and no one can believe, receive the Spirit, make up another's lack, or fight another's battle for him. The righteousness by which each person is saved and rescues his own soul is the imputed righteousness of Christ. The verse looks to the coming time of trouble and judgment upon the land, when every case is decided and each person must stand alone for himself before God and answer for himself. That personal fitness must therefore be obtained beforehand, now while atonement is being made, by stern persevering effort in one's own behalf, since no other's faithfulness, sorrow, pleading, or intercession can save another.

Righteousness Cannot Be Transferred

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they could deliver neither son nor daughter nor anyone else, but only their own souls by their own righteousness. Even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, or Job cannot deliver another person, and no righteous parent or intercessor can rescue another in their stead. Each could deliver only himself by his own righteousness, and each person is saved only by his own righteousness.

Righteousness and the character formed by the Spirit cannot be transferred from one person to another. Character and the fruit of the Spirit's work cannot be passed from one to another, and no one can believe or receive the Spirit on another's behalf. Another person cannot make up that person's deficiency in a spiritual crisis, for each person must be prepared through the Spirit's work himself. No one else can secure that deliverance or fight that person's battles for him, and each person is responsible for the outcome of his own struggle.

No one can save another soul by giving his own life for him, and no one can give his own life to save another soul. No human can bear another's sins, answer for another, or secure the salvation of even his closest kindred. Each person stands alone for life or death. The righteousness by which each person is saved and delivers his own soul is the imputed righteousness of Christ.

Standing in Final Crisis

The verse looks forward to the coming time of trouble such as never was, the time of anguish and judgment upon the land, when every person must stand alone for himself before God and answer for himself. In that day even Noah, Daniel, and Job, were they present, could deliver neither son nor daughter nor any other person, but only their own souls by their own righteousness. No righteous parent or intercessor can rescue another then, and no one can rely on another's faithfulness to stand.

That crisis will open after the servants of God are sealed and the restraining of the four winds ends, when a scene of strife beyond any vivid description begins. It will come after probation closes and every case is decided, so each person needs a righteousness of his own. The ordeal will be greater in reality than in anticipation.

The needed personal experience must therefore be obtained beforehand, now while the great High Priest is making atonement, by seeking to become perfect in Christ. Only those found in the sinless, commandment-keeping condition Christ had will stand in the time of trouble. That is the condition in which the prince of this world found nothing in Him, yielding not even by a thought to temptation, keeping His Father's commandments with no cherished sinful desire giving Satan a foothold. Those who avoid the conflict of overcoming by yielding to circumstances will not be ready for that day, while the redeemed are those who have endured great tribulation.

Living Individual Accountability

Each person stands individually accountable before the Judge of all the earth for the outcome of his own struggle for holiness and salvation, and must enter that warfare personally, for no one is carried upward without stern, persevering effort in his own behalf, and even the righteousness of Noah, Job, and Daniel could deliver neither son nor daughter but only their own souls. No failure of others and no worldly excuse removes that personal responsibility to obey God. Each must seek God's pardoning grace for himself and obtain a genuine religious experience of his own, looking to Jesus and drawing strength and grace from Him for himself.

No one's faith can save another, not earnest talking of truth, not sorrow and pleading and intercession, not even for son or daughter, and not even to impress an unbelieving husband who has no part with the saints and cares only to get this world and lay up treasure on earth, for prayer for another goes only so far. It rests wholly with each person and his own course of action whether he will enter the portals of the city of God, and his own course is deciding his case for eternity, for after long forbearance God will not be trifled with. Remaining bound to wicked company saps strength and drags down and opens a wide door for the devil to strike with his darts, bringing danger of falling right upon the borders of Canaan, so the shackles of wicked influence must be shaken off to go free.

God has not forgotten His people and will place crowns on the heads of those who have denied self, yet they must remain a peculiar people not like the world, which is poison like an adder, and must watch lest blood be found upon their garments and their children be cast down before their eyes, crying for pity and compassion and to be spared a little longer. Each must die to self-will and walk in truth in the love and fear of God for himself, and one who rushes on in impetuous spirit like Saul, doing contrary to what God told him to do, will with the great light he has had be proportionately condemned and left to a just God. Each church member must not depend on the minister to talk to them and pet them in perplexity or trouble, nor trust the minister to do their repenting and praying and witnessing for them, but must gain spiritual exercise for themselves and make their spiritual sinews and muscles strong by working for their own good and for the blessing of others.

Righteousness is strictly personal, so no human can bear another's sins or answer for another or secure the salvation of even his closest kindred, and this rebukes criticizing others, cherishing independence, refusing counsel, and wanting to labor alone to avoid criticism or counsel, calling instead for learning true methods of labor, unity, and love in practical life. Therefore no living mortal, youth or man, whatever his experience, influence, learning, or supposed sharp intuition, can make his chalk line for any other man to walk on, and even one in the highest place of responsibility must not in any sense lord it over his fellow man or command or mark out what another shall do. Each person has a responsibility to bear for his individual course of action, and must individually consider his course and take control of time, mind, and conscience under the control of God, and the pupil is to learn all possible from teachers but never to be under domination, for the human mind is God's property not to be bound to do any man's will, since there is one Master, Jesus Christ, to whom every heart and mind is to be lifted up.