Ezekiel 3:21

21 But if you warn the righteous person that he should not sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he listened to [your] warning, and you will have saved your life."[a]

Ezekiel 3:21 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 3:21

Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous [man]
Every righteous man, that is so in a judgment of charity, whether truly righteous or not, which the event shows; who should be warned not to trust in their own righteousness, but to depend on the righteousness of Christ; that they be careful to maintain good works, to avoid sin, and live holy lives and conversations, as follows: that the righteous sin not;
not that there is any just man that does good, and sins not; the best of men are often sinning in thought, word, or deed; but he is to be warned that he does not continue in sin, and lead a sinful coups of life; which is contrary to his character, and to his faith in Christ for righteousness, which is attended with good works: and he doth not sin;
the warning and exhortation given him having so good an effect, through the power of divine grace, as to be a means of preserving him from a vain conversation: he shall surely live;
spiritually and comfortably now, and eternally hereafter: because he is warned;
that being a means, and with the divine blessing taking effect: also thou hast delivered thy soul; (See Gill on Ezekiel 3:19).

Ezekiel 3:21 In-Context

19 But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
20 Now if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, and I put a stumbling block in front of him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die because of his sin and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.
21 But if you warn the righteous person that he should not sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he listened to [your] warning, and you will have saved your life."
22 Then the hand of the Lord was on me there, and He said to me, "Get up, go out to the plain, and I will speak with you there."
23 So I got up and went out to the plain. The Lord's glory was present there, like the glory I had seen by the Chebar Canal, and I fell facedown.

Footnotes 1

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