Ezekiel 18

19–20 In these verses, the Lord reaffirms the truth that every person is responsible for his or her own conduct and will be judged accordingly; even believers will face this judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10).

21–23 Here the Lord adds one important new truth: a wicked man can change his ways! He can repent. If he does, he will be judged a righteous man. None of his sins will be remembered (see Jeremiah 31:34); he will live (verse 22). Indeed, the Lord is eager for a wicked man to repent (2 Peter 3:9); He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (verses 23,32). That is why He sent His Son to earth to die on the cross so that sinful men and women might not perish but live (see John 3:16; 1 John 2:1–2).

24 Just as a wicked man can change for the better, so a righteous man can change for the worse. If he does not repent, he will be judged an unrighteous man, and he will die.³⁴

25–29 The Jewish exiles listening to Ezekiel apparently considered God unjust; He was holding them responsible for their own sins! (verse 25). In verses 26–29, the Lord repeats what He has stated in verses 21–24.

30–32 The Lord is just: each person will be judged according to his or her actions. “Repent, therefore,” says the Lord, “and get a new heart and a new spirit” (verses 30—31). It is God who gives us a new heart, a new spirit (see Ezekiel 11:18–21 and comment), but we have to “get” it; we have to appropriate God’s gift. We have to ask for it, seek for it (Matthew 7:7–8). Why would we choose death, when we could have life? God wants us to choose life (Deuteronomy 30:19–20), for He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone (verse 32).

The choice is ours. Yes, we can refuse to take responsibility for our sins and failings and put the blame on others—on our parents, our circumstances, our society. Or we can accept responsibility, turn back to God, and with His help make a new beginning. God is a “God of second chances.” But whether or not we take that second chance is up to us.