But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
If the wicked turn from wickedness and do what is lawful and right, they shall live thereby. The turning is practical and is shown in changed conduct, for it means abandoning sin, restoring what was taken, and walking in the statutes of life without continuing in iniquity. After such genuine turning and right action, the person's former sins will not be held against him and will not bar him from life. God judges each person by his or her own ways, according to that person's own way.
This answers the charge that the Lord's way is unequal or unfair, showing His judgment is not unequal. The claim that His way is unequal is itself unjust. Neither past wickedness nor past righteousness determines the outcome when a person changes course, so past righteousness does not excuse later wrongdoing any more than past wickedness bars the one who turns. God takes pleasure in people turning from sin.
Each person is personally responsible to obey, for no one can obey for another, and another person's neglect does not excuse one's own neglect of duty. Those who lead others away from obedience are accountable for the harm their influence causes. The verse is connected with the duty to watch over souls and to give warnings and reproof.
If the wicked turn from wickedness and do what is lawful and right, they shall live thereby. The turning is practical and is shown in changed conduct, for it means abandoning sin, restoring what was taken, and walking in the statutes of life without continuing in iniquity. After such genuine turning and right action, the person's former sins will not be held against him and will not bar him from life. God judges each person by his or her own ways, according to that person's own way.
This answers the charge that the Lord's way is unequal or unfair, showing His judgment is not unequal. The claim that His way is unequal is itself unjust. Neither past wickedness nor past righteousness determines the outcome when a person changes course, so past righteousness does not excuse later wrongdoing any more than past wickedness bars the one who turns. God takes pleasure in people turning from sin.
Each person is personally responsible to obey, for no one can obey for another, and another person's neglect does not excuse one's own neglect of duty. Those who lead others away from obedience are accountable for the harm their influence causes. The verse is connected with the duty to watch over souls and to give warnings and reproof.