Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
The complaint recorded is that the way of the Lord is not equal, and the answer returned is that it is the complainers themselves whose way is not equal. The charge accuses God of judging unfairly, but it misrepresents His just treatment of people, for the fault lies in their own way and not in the Lord's. Saying the way of the Lord is not equal is itself proof that the complainers' way is not equal.
This belongs to the truth of God in Ezekiel 33 and 34, not a pleasing fable, and it must be read and studied with the utmost stretch of understanding for what it means to those living in the last days. It calls them to make straight paths for their feet so the lame are turned out of the way.
The Lord's equal rule is to judge each person according to present conduct and after his ways. When a righteous person turns from righteousness to sin and wrongdoing and commits iniquity, he dies for it thereby. When a wicked person turns from wickedness and sin to what is lawful and right, he lives thereby. Past righteousness does not protect a person who commits evil, and a person cannot rely on past righteousness while committing evil. God cannot pardon transgression without repentance and turning from sin, but He will receive sinners who repent and forsake their sins, so His promises of salvation are conditional upon compliance.
God is fair and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires that the wicked return from his ways and live. He will judge every one of the house of Israel according to his ways. The chapter therefore calls people and churches to examine conduct, correct evil, repent and be converted. It supports watching over souls with warnings and reproof, so that iniquity will not be ruin. Sinners must repent and turn from all transgressions, cast away transgressions and make a new heart and a new spirit, wash and be clean, put away evil, cease to do evil, learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow, and if the wicked restores the pledge, gives again what was robbed, and walks in the statutes of life without iniquity, he shall surely live and not die.
God's government in the chapter holds each person personally responsible: no one can obey for another, and neglect of duty is not excused because others neglect theirs. The complaint itself takes the form of thinking evil and speaking evil of God's chosen messengers, finding fault with and accusing them, which amounts to complaining against God and sows unbelief, so the warning must be respected and the message received. The way of the Lord is equal and just while the way of complaining men is not equal. This exposes ministers who take up preaching without prayerfully searching the Scriptures, hold error, and preach false doctrine contrary to a plain divine requirement, bringing ruin on themselves with condemnation measured by the influence of their words and example in leading souls into transgression. A minister is responsible to help his church obey the Word, yet many stand in the way of obedience and warn the people against doing what God has told them to do, and every man must give strict account for his influence, with those who profess to be on the Lord's side while doing the enemy's work of hindering others from receiving the Word answering for it, with the blood of souls perishing through their unfaithfulness upon their heads.
Those who let themselves be deceived are not excused for failing to search the Word of God for themselves, for trusting their souls to an unfaithful minister does not remove guilt and the minister cannot pay ransom for them. Christ gave His life to give them another trial and make return to loyalty possible. But doubting whether He will save, complaining of His justice and severity, and taking the side of Satan to justify sin reflects upon God's character and leaves the sinner to bear the penalty of sin.
The complaint recorded is that the way of the Lord is not equal, and the answer returned is that it is the complainers themselves whose way is not equal. The charge accuses God of judging unfairly, but it misrepresents His just treatment of people, for the fault lies in their own way and not in the Lord's. Saying the way of the Lord is not equal is itself proof that the complainers' way is not equal.
This belongs to the truth of God in Ezekiel 33 and 34, not a pleasing fable, and it must be read and studied with the utmost stretch of understanding for what it means to those living in the last days. It calls them to make straight paths for their feet so the lame are turned out of the way.
The Lord's equal rule is to judge each person according to present conduct and after his ways. When a righteous person turns from righteousness to sin and wrongdoing and commits iniquity, he dies for it thereby. When a wicked person turns from wickedness and sin to what is lawful and right, he lives thereby. Past righteousness does not protect a person who commits evil, and a person cannot rely on past righteousness while committing evil. God cannot pardon transgression without repentance and turning from sin, but He will receive sinners who repent and forsake their sins, so His promises of salvation are conditional upon compliance.
God is fair and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires that the wicked return from his ways and live. He will judge every one of the house of Israel according to his ways. The chapter therefore calls people and churches to examine conduct, correct evil, repent and be converted. It supports watching over souls with warnings and reproof, so that iniquity will not be ruin. Sinners must repent and turn from all transgressions, cast away transgressions and make a new heart and a new spirit, wash and be clean, put away evil, cease to do evil, learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow, and if the wicked restores the pledge, gives again what was robbed, and walks in the statutes of life without iniquity, he shall surely live and not die.
God's government in the chapter holds each person personally responsible: no one can obey for another, and neglect of duty is not excused because others neglect theirs. The complaint itself takes the form of thinking evil and speaking evil of God's chosen messengers, finding fault with and accusing them, which amounts to complaining against God and sows unbelief, so the warning must be respected and the message received. The way of the Lord is equal and just while the way of complaining men is not equal. This exposes ministers who take up preaching without prayerfully searching the Scriptures, hold error, and preach false doctrine contrary to a plain divine requirement, bringing ruin on themselves with condemnation measured by the influence of their words and example in leading souls into transgression. A minister is responsible to help his church obey the Word, yet many stand in the way of obedience and warn the people against doing what God has told them to do, and every man must give strict account for his influence, with those who profess to be on the Lord's side while doing the enemy's work of hindering others from receiving the Word answering for it, with the blood of souls perishing through their unfaithfulness upon their heads.
Those who let themselves be deceived are not excused for failing to search the Word of God for themselves, for trusting their souls to an unfaithful minister does not remove guilt and the minister cannot pay ransom for them. Christ gave His life to give them another trial and make return to loyalty possible. But doubting whether He will save, complaining of His justice and severity, and taking the side of Satan to justify sin reflects upon God's character and leaves the sinner to bear the penalty of sin.